deja de molestar
/dexa de molestaɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase stop bothering is translated into Spanish as deja de molestar.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of deja (leave/stop), de (of) and molestar (to bother/annoy).
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are telling more than one person to stop bothering, use the plural form dejen de molestar instead of deja. To use the polite usted form when telling someone to stop bothering, change deja to deje. To say 'stop bothering me', you attach the object pronoun 'me' to the end of the infinitive molestar, resulting in deja de molestarme. To say 'stop bothering him', you attach the object pronoun 'lo' to the end of the infinitive molestar, resulting in deja de molestarlo.
Did you know?
- While molestar means 'to bother', in English, the related word 'molest' has evolved to mean something much more violent and specific than the general annoyance described by the Spanish word.
- The Latin root of molestar is related to the word moles, meaning 'a huge mass of stone' or 'a pier'.
- In Spain, if someone is 'bothering' you in a playful or flirtatious way, they might be called a pesado or pesada, which literally means 'a heavy person'.
Examples in context
- Deja de molestar al gato.Stop bothering the cat.This example shows how to use deja de molestar with a cat.Tatoeba #9434969 by ignacio, translation #9424217 by CK
- ¡Deja de molestarme!Stop bothering me!This example shows the form deja de molestar used to tell someone to stop bothering you.Tatoeba #1303361 by wallebot, translation #262417 by CK
- Deja de molestar a tu padre.Stop bothering your father.This example shows how to use deja de molestar with a father.Tatoeba #667245 by darinmex, translation #64048 by CK
- Por favor, deje de molestarme con llamadas no solicitadas.Please stop bothering me with unsolicited calls.
- Deja de molestarme con tantas preguntas.Stop bothering me with so many questions.
Example conversation
Javier is trying to study while María makes too much noise.
- JavierMaría, por favor, deja de molestar.María, please, stop bothering.
- MaríaNo te estoy molestando, solo estoy cantando.I am not bothering you, I am just singing.
- JavierNecesito silencio para terminar este trabajo.I need silence to finish this work.
- MaríaEstá bien, me quedaré callada.Fine, I will be quiet.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
