A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Sorry to bother you" in Spanish
Politely interrupt or apologize for causing inconvenience in Spanish.
Perdón por la molestia
pehr-DOHN pohr lah moh-LEHS-tee-ahneutral
Spanish TTS · 0:01
Use this when you need to interrupt someone who is busy, ask for a small favor that might inconvenience them, or if you've accidentally caused a minor problem.
Alternatives
- Disculpe la molestiaSlightly more formal, good for official settings.
- Perdón que te molesteUse when speaking to someone you know well and use 'tú' with.
Ways to get it wrong
Don't use 'molestar' as a direct translation for 'to bother' in all contexts.
While it works here, 'molestar' can also mean 'to annoy' or 'to disturb,' so be mindful of the nuance.
Confusing 'molestia' with 'molestia' (annoyance).
The noun 'molestia' means inconvenience or bother, not necessarily strong annoyance.
A small cultural note
Latin American cultures often value politeness and may use variations of this phrase even for very minor inconveniences, showing extra consideration.
Frequently asked
When do I use 'perdón' vs 'disculpe'?
'Perdón' is generally for minor apologies or getting attention, while 'disculpe' is often for interrupting or requesting something more formally.
Can I say 'sorry to bother you' in a very casual way?
For very casual situations with friends, you might say 'Perdona que te moleste' or even just 'Perdona' with a questioning tone.
What if I just need to get someone's attention?
You can use 'Perdón' or 'Disculpe' on their own, or follow up with 'Perdón por la molestia' if you feel you are interrupting something.
