Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| perturbador | /peɾtuɾbaˈdoɾ/ | |
| inquietante | /inkjeˈtante/ | |
| turbio | /ˈtuɾbjo/ | slang |
| da yuyu | /da ʝuʝu/ (from spelling rules) | Spain |
All these terms describe something that causes distress, worry or a sense of unease.
Which one should you use?
While both are standard terms, inquietante is often used for things that cause a sense of unease, anxiety or restlessness. In contrast, perturbador is used for things that are more intensely disruptive to one's mental state or peace.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
perturbador is a formal way to say disturbing. turbio is a slang term used colloquially to describe something that is "sketchy", "shady" or morally questionable.
Is it said differently in some regions?
da yuyu is a colloquial expression used in Spain to describe something that is creepy or unsettling.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word perturbador must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies, such as perturbadora, perturbadores or perturbadoras.
How do you pronounce it?
/peɾtuɾbaˈdoɾ/
Did you know?
- The word turbio literally means 'cloudy' or 'murky', which is why it is used metaphorically to describe 'shady' or 'sketchy' behavior.
- The colloquialism da yuyu in Spain uses the word 'yuyu', which is an onomatopoeic or nonsense word used to express a vague sense of fear or unease.
- The word turbio shares a common ancestor with the Latin word turba, meaning a crowd or a commotion.
Examples in context
- Mary me resulta inquietante.I find Mary disturbing.This sentence uses inquietante to describe a person.Tatoeba #8027566 by Seael, translation #10565224 by espamatics
- Esta es una noticia perturbadora.This is disturbing news.This sentence uses perturbador to describe news.Tatoeba #10289061 by Seael, translation #8634548 by Eccles17
- Acabo de oír un rumor inquietante.I've just heard a disturbing rumor.This sentence uses inquietante to describe a rumor.Tatoeba #1431544 by marcelostockle, translation #241677 by CK
- El ruido que provenía de la casa era perturbadorThe noise coming from the house was disturbing
- Me resulta inquietante la forma en que me miraI find the way he/she looks at me disturbing
- La imagen que vi en la película fue extremadamente perturbadoraThe image I saw in the movie was extremely disturbing
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are discussing a documentary they watched.
- JavierEse documental fue muy perturbador.That documentary was very disturbing.
- SofíaSí, me dejó muy nerviosa.Yes, it left me very nervous.
- JavierLo peor fue la escena final.The worst part was the final scene.
- SofíaEs verdad, fue un momento perturbador.It's true, it was a disturbing moment.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “disturbing” translations and entries perturbador, inquietante, turbio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries inquietante, perturbador, turbio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
