Confusing English Words Challenge 17
Algunas palabras en inglés pueden crear confusion en los principiantes.
Some words in English can be confusing for learners.
This one is to practice 3 words. - (to) bother and (to) molest and (to) disturb
Both native Spanish and English speakers may answer - but write both Spanish and English sentences.
I would appreciate some help in checking the Spanish sentences.
Agradecería una cierta ayuda en la comprobación de las oraciones españolas.
I will "accept" the best effort after about a week
Every attempt will get a vote.
NOTE - we would normally need at least 3 sentences in both Languages that illustrate how the the following are used.
a) (to) bother
b) (to) molest
c) (to) disturb
Futher explanation as to the different meanings may be given.
Please do not suggest new words.
5 Answers
Molest is new for me, I didn't know the word existed in English... Thank you Intense for the explanation. .... Well, let's try:
No child, don't bother me anymore. I know you and you only want to go to the zoo to disturb the animals. (I'm not sure about: to go to the zoo to disturb)
No hijo, no me fastidies más. Te conozco y sé que sólo quieres ir al zoológico para molestar a los animales.
Colonial landowners, taking advantage of their power, used to molest their slaves.
Los terratenientes de la colonia, aprovechando su poder, solían abusar a sus esclavas.
In South America, "fregar" means to annoy, too. And a vulgar one: Jorobar
It's very important to know the difference between "molest" in English and "molestar" in Spanish.
Molest is a verb and in English implies pedophilia, including incest. It also may imply sexual assault of a woman. Molestation is the noun form of the word. "Molest" represents something perverted and disgusting and it makes you feel sick in your stomach when you hear it.
In Spanish, molestar means bother or irritate. perdone que le moleste… -> I'm sorry to bother you… ¿le molesta que fume? -> will it bother you if I smoke? me molesta la pierna -> my leg is bothering me/hurts
Me molesta ese ruido -> that noise upsets/irritates me. Me molesta tener que repetirlo -> I hate having to repeat it
?? No me molesta means stop bugging me, go away, right?
Sorry, Ian but I was on vacation so this is late.
My attempt:
| 1 | Estoy importunando por la arena en mis zapatos. | I am bothered by sand in my shoes. |
| 2 | Las mujeres que se han abusado son cautelosas con los extraños. | Women who have been molested are cautious around strangers. |
| 3 | El despertador perturba mi sueño. | The alarm clock disturbs my sleep. |
English definitions came from link text
Spanish definitions came from the SD on-line dictionary.
A - One definition of bother is to intrude on without invitation or warrant or to give trouble to.
importuner
transitive verb
1 - to bother, to pester
intransitive verb
2 - to be tiresome or a nuisance
B - One definition of molest is to subject to unwanted or improper sexual activity.
Abusar [ah-boo-sar]
article & verb transitive
1 - To abuse or misapply a thing; to impose upon, to go too far, to exceed one’s rights.
C - One definition of disturb is to break up or destroy the state of tranquility; to interfere or interrupt.
Perturbar [per-toor-bar’]
article & verb transitive
1 - To perturb, to disturb (orden, calma); to interrupt, to harrow. 2 - To upset, to disturb; to perturb (mentalmente). (Medical)
Does my smoking bother you? / ¿Te molesta que fume?
What’s bothering you? / ¿Qué es lo que te preocupa?
to molest - abusar sexualmente
I’m sorry to disturb you. / Siento molestarte.
It seems that molest is used more freely in Spanish than English.
Bother can mean irritate. If a pushy salesman calls again and again, you could say, "Would you please stop bothering me". If a fly is buzzing around your head and won't go away, you could say ' this fly is bothering me. Or, if a man on the street makes makes you uncomfortable, you could walk up to a police officer and say 'this man is bothering me'.
Molestar = to bother
'Don't bother' is an expression and is used differently. If you say it very softly with a friendly look on yourself, you are politely saying 'don't worry about it'. But if you say angrily or sarcastically 'don't bother', this means, You should have done it when I asked you to.
