interferir
/inteɾfeˈɾiɾ/
To interfere in Spanish is interferir.
The verb interferir is used to describe getting involved in a way that causes a disturbance or obstruction. This applies to both social situations and technical contexts, such as describing signal interference as in English. If you are talking about interfering in a specific matter or situation, you should use the preposition en after the verb.
Meaning: get involved, causing disturbance (verb)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina and Uruguay, the verb molestar can be used to convey the sense of interference.
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing interference in a matter, use the construction interferir en. For example, the third-person singular preterite (past tense) form for 'he/she/it interfered' is interfirió.
How do you pronounce it?
/inteɾfeˈɾiɾ/
Did you know?
- The social acceptance of interfering in family affairs is linked to familismo, a cultural value where family boundaries are much more fluid than in English-speaking cultures.
- While interferir is the direct translation, many Spanish speakers in South America would use the verb meter in the phrase meterse en to describe a person meddling in someone else's business.
- If you want to call someone a meddler in a social setting, you might use the noun metiche instead of any form of the verb 'interferir'.
Examples in context
- ¿Por qué debería interferir?Why should I interfere?This sentence is useful for asking why one should use the form interferir.Tatoeba #5566807 by swyter, translation #3730582 by CM
- No tenía ningún derecho a interferir.I had no right to interfere.This sentence shows how to express that someone had no right to use the form interferir.Tatoeba #2522600 by marcelostockle, translation #2331702 by CK
- No deberías interferir en los asuntos de otras personas.You shouldn't interfere in other people's business.This sentence demonstrates the correct use of the preposition 'en' with interferir.Tatoeba #2830924 by teskmon, translation #274733 by CK
- No quiero intervenir en tus problemasI don't want to interfere in your problems
- No deberías inmiscuirte en asuntos ajenosYou shouldn't interfere in other people's matters
- El jefe no quiere que intervengamos en ese asunto delicado.The boss doesn't want us to interfere in that delicate matter.
- Deja de colarte en nuestras conversaciones privadas.Stop interfering in our private conversations.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are discussing a conflict between two friends.
- JavierNuestros amigos están peleando mucho.Our friends are fighting a lot.
- LucíaNo creo que sea bueno interferir ahora.I don't think it's a good idea to interfere now.
- JavierPero alguien tiene que ayudarlos.But someone has to help them.
- LucíaEs mejor dejar que ellos lo resuelvan.It's better to let them resolve it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “interfere” translations and entries interferir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
