Which one should you use?
While the word inconveniente exists in Spanish and can be used in formal contexts to indicate an inconvenience, molestia is the much more natural and frequent choice when referring to a bother, annoyance or physical discomfort. For situations involving a setback or a delay, the formal term contratiempo is more appropriate.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word jaleo is predominantly used in Spain to describe a commotion or an inconvenient situation. The word lata is used across both Spain and Latin America to express annoyance or a hassle.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In formal notices or customer service settings, the plural form las molestias is the standard way to refer to the general inconvenience caused to people. The plural is also very common in fixed apologetic expressions, such as Disculpe las molestias.
How do you pronounce it?
/moˈlestja/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be aware that molestia is a false friend for English speakers. It only refers to annoyance, discomfort or inconvenience and should never be used to mean 'sexual harassment'.
When do people say it?
In formal customer service contexts in Spain and some Latin American countries, it is common to use the expression Perdón por las molestias. Across both Spain and Latin America, Disculpa la demora is a common way to apologize for an inconvenience caused by a wait time.
Did you know?
- To express that something is a massive hassle or a real nuisance, you can use the word lata in both Spain and Latin America. This literally translates to 'tin can', but it functions as a common idiom for a bother.
- When visiting a doctor in a Spanish speaking country, a patient will use molestia to describe a vague physical ache or discomfort that is hard to pinpoint.
- The word molestia comes from the Latin moles, which referred to a 'huge mass' or a 'burden'.
Examples in context
- Disculpas por las molestias.Sorry for the inconvenience.This sentence uses molestia to apologize for inconveniences.Tatoeba #1536258 by wallebot, translation #1536257 by wallebot
- perdona las molestiasSorry for the inconvenienceThis sentence uses molestia to apologize for the inconvenience.
- Disculpen las molestias.Excuse us for the inconvenience.This sentence uses molestia to ask for an excuse regarding inconveniences.Tatoeba #856113 by bleu9, translation #22086 by CK
- Lamentamos el inconveniente ocasionado por el corte de luz.We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the power outage.
- Le pedimos disculpas por el contratiempo surgido con su reserva.We apologize for the inconvenience that arose with your reservation.
- ¡Qué lata de tener que ir hasta allá solo para una firma!What a hassle to have to go all the way there just for a signature!
- ¡Vaya jaleo que se formó con la avería del coche!What a mess it turned into with the car breakdown!
- Le pedimos perdón por las molestias ocasionadas.We apologize for the inconveniences caused.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier is apologizing to María for arriving late to their meeting.
- JavierMaría, perdona por llegar tarde, espero no ser una molestia.María, sorry for arriving late, I hope I'm not an inconvenience.
- MaríaNo te preocupes, Javier, no es ninguna molestia.Don't worry, Javier, it's no inconvenience at all.
- JavierGracias, me sentía muy mal por el retraso.Thank you, I felt very bad about the delay.
- MaríaTodo está bien, podemos empezar ahora.Everything is fine, we can start now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry molestia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries molestia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
