11 Ways to Express Your Frustration: Feeling Anger in Spanish

When you’re learning Spanish, it’s essential to embrace not only the formal aspects but also how to convey feelings. We’re only human, and we all feel mad, stressed, and frustrated from time-to-time. This article will teach you common Spanish phrases, words, and verbs you’ll need to make your frustration clear. You’ll also learn the English translation for each one and when to use them.

How to Express Frustration in Spanish 

If you want to express frustration in Spanish, there are several phrases you can use to communicate your emotions. But, to understand them, you’ll first need to become familiar with the vocabulary used to build them. Keep in mind that many of these Spanish phrases can sound similar, but there are differences in the instances when they are used. Some are more common in Latin American Spanish than they are in European Spanish, so make sure to take note.

Verbs to Express Frustration in Spanish

In Spanish, various verbs can help you express that you are in an angry or frustrated mood. Understanding the conjugation and usage of these verbs is necessary for effectively articulating your feelings. However, this might be tricky so check other Spanish grammar resources to make sure you can use them correctly. Some common key verbs used to express anger in Spanish include:

1. Enfadarse (to get angry):

Enfadarse means to get angry. While this verb can be applied in Latin American and European Spanish, you’re more likely to hear it in Spain. For example:

– Me enfado cuando llego tarde. / I get angry when I arrive late.

2. Enojarse (to get mad):

Enojarse also translates to “to get angry” or “to get mad.” There isn’t much distinction between this word and enfadarse, but enojarse is more commonly used in Latin American Spanish. For example:

– Se enoja con facilidad. / He gets mad easily.

3. Irritarse (to get irritated):

Irritarse means to get irritated. Unlike enfadarse and enojarse, we use irritarse to point out when we’re starting to feel frustrated rather than angry. For example:

– Me irrito cuando no me escuchan. / I get irritated when they don’t listen to me.

4. Estallar (to explode):

Estallar means to explode but isn’t always applied for its literal meaning. In Spanish, we use estallar when we’re about to blow up with anger. For example:

– Estalló de furia al enterarse de la noticia. / He exploded with anger when he heard the news.

5. Desahogarse (to vent):

Desahogarse translates to “to vent” or “to blow off steam.” This is a useful verb we use to describe when someone needs to express the reasons for their frustration. For example:

– Necesito desahogarme con alguien. / I need to vent to someone.

It’s important to practice the conjugation of these verbs in different tenses to accurately express your anger in various situations. And remember, it’s also important to control your emotions and communicate effectively when expressing anger.

Adjectives to Express Frustration and Anger

To express emotions in Spanish, you’ll need to learn and understand the different adjectives and slang Spanish speakers use to convey frustration and anger. Increasing your vocabulary will not only help you to describe your emotions with more precision, but sound more natural, as well. Some Spanish words that can come in handy include frustración (frustration), enojo (anger), and rabia (rage), but you’ll also need to learn adjectives associated with annoyance. Below, you’ll find a table with vocabulary you can use to express your frustration in Spanish.

You’ll notice that some of these words have similar meanings, but they can serve to describe different degrees of the same emotion. For example, “cansado” means you’re physically tired, like you just had a busy day. But “harto” can mean you’re done with a specific repetitive situation. “Hastiado” comes from “hastiar” (to feel tired or disgusted), and is mostly used when you can’t take a situation or event anymore. 

The same is true for “pesado” and “latoso.” We tend to use “pesado” when something or someone is bugging us, but we still can handle the situation. “Latoso,” on the other hand, describes someone we would like to avoid. Note that you have to keep in mind the gender of the subject you’re describing, changing the ending vowel to -o or -a accordingly.

Common Spanish Expressions for Expressing Anger and Frustration

Because Spanish is so widely spoken, there are many variations of the phrases we use to convey anger and frustration. Still, there are some key phrases you can use in all Spanish-speaking countries to tell others they’re getting on your nerves. Below, you’ll find the 11 most common phrases for expressing anger in Spanish.

¡Para ya!

This commonly used phrase translates to “Stop it!” and is used when someone’s actions are causing frustration or annoyance.

¡Estoy harto de esto!

“¡Estoy harto de esto!” translates to, “I am fed up with this!” This is a common way to tell someone that you’re tired of their actions or a certain situation.

¡Qué pesado!

While “pesado” can translate as “heavy,” it’s also an adjective used to describe someone annoying. This angry Spanish phrase is equivalent to saying, “How annoying” or “What a pain.”

¡No me fastidies!

This expression is used when someone is bothering or annoying you. Its English translation is, “Don’t bother me.” If you’re really angry and don’t mind being rude, you can also use the Mexican slang variation, “¡Deja de chingar!”

¡Déjalo ya!

“¡Déjalo ya!” translates to, “Leave it already.” You can use it when you want someone to stop what they’re doing or to warn them that their actions are beginning to frustrate you.

¡Me saca de quicio!

This phrase is used to express that something or someone is getting on your nerves. It translates to “You’re/It’s getting on my nerves.”

¡Ay, Dios mío!

An exclamation of frustration or disbelief, this phrase translates to “Oh my God!” While some English speakers might consider this to be a curse word, this expression doesn’t hold the same weight in Spanish.

¡Esto es el colmo!

When something has reached the peak of annoyance, you can say “¡Esto es el colmo!” In English, it means, “That’s the last straw!”

¡Me revienta!

In Latin America, the phrase “¡Me revienta!” is quite popular when it comes to expressing annoyance. It translates to, “It drives me crazy!” and is an informal way to say you’re about to blow up with anger.

¡Estoy hasta el gorro!

When you’ve had enough and are losing your patience, you can say “¡Estoy hasta el gorro!” which means, “I’ve had it up to here.” The Spanish word “gorro” translates to “hat,” so you don’t have to make the usual hand-to-forehead motion associated with the English equivalent.

¡Menudo rollo!

This phrase translates to “What a drag!” In Spain, this is a popular way to express disappointment or frustration with a situation.

How to Express Frustration in Spanish: Examples

Let’s consider an example where someone is constantly interrupting you while you’re speaking. You could use the phrase “¡Para ya!” to tell them to stop. Similarly, in a situation where someone is annoying you with their behavior, you might use “¡Qué pesado!” to express your frustration. Here are some other examples:

-¡No pienso prestarte más dinero! ¡Es el colmo! / I’m not going to lend you any more money! That’s the last straw!

-¿Puedes dejar de tocar ese silbato? ¡Me saca de quicio! / Can you stop blowing that whistle? It’s getting on my nerves!

-¡No hay señal de Internet de nuevo! ¡Menudo rollo! / No internet signal again! What a drag!

-¡Estoy hasta el gorro con ese televisor malogrado! /  I’ve had it up to here with that broken TV!

-¡Deja de hacerme callar! ¡Me revienta! / Stop making me shut up! It drives me crazy!

Learn Spanish with Langoly!

One of the best ways to enhance your ability to express frustration in Spanish is to use a combination of learning resources. For example, if you like interactive exercises, apps have brief lessons to increase your vocabulary. With YouTube channels, you can listen to native speakers from different Spanish-speaking countries and develop your listening skills. Spanish podcasts also allow you to listen to spoken conversations while you’re on the go. If you like traditional resources, Spanish books have clear examples to ensure you understand essential grammar.

But, if you want a comprehensive resource to kickstart your Spanish studies, you should try studying with an online course. We created the Siempre Spanish course to help you learn Spanish naturally. You study with native speakers and learn to use the language in the most common scenarios. Stop memorizing random phrases and become conversational in Spanish!