Spanish Phrase
Perdón por molestarte.
Meaning
A polite apology meaning ‘Sorry for bothering you.’ It acknowledges that the speaker has caused a small inconvenience and shows respect for the listener’s time or attention.
When to use
Use this phrase when you interrupt someone, ask a favor, call someone unexpectedly, or any situation where you might be imposing on the other person’s time or space.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Perdónpormolestarte
Perdón (noun used as interjection)
Literally ‘pardon’, it works as a polite way to ask forgiveness before or after a minor inconvenience.
por (preposition)
Introduces the cause or reason for the apology; here it means ‘for’.
molestarte (infinitive + clitic -te)
The verb ‘molestar’ (to bother) is followed by the indirect object pronoun ‘‑te’ to indicate that the speaker is bothering *you*.
🗨In Conversation
Perdón por molestarte.
Sorry for bothering you.
No hay problema, dime.
No problem, go ahead.
✕Common Mistakes
Perdón por molestar.
The verb must include the clitic pronoun ‑te to indicate you’re bothering the listener.
Perdón por molestarte a ti.
Adding ‘a ti’ after ‘molestarte’ is redundant; the clitic already marks the indirect object.
↔Alternatives
Disculpa por molestarte.
Excuse me for bothering you.
Lo siento por molestarte.
I’m sorry for bothering you.
Perdona la molestia.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries ‘perdón’ is slightly more formal than ‘disculpa’, but both are perfectly acceptable. Adding the clitic ‘‑te’ makes the apology personal; omitting it can sound generic or even rude. In casual conversation you’ll often hear a quick ‘¡Perdón!’ followed by the request, while in more formal settings you might say the full sentence.