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perturbar

to disturb

verb pehr-toor-BAHR Rare
Mind & Emotions Emotions

Origin: from Latin perturbare, 'to throw into disorder'

Also means

to perturb; to upset

Usage Note

Perturbar suggests a deeper disruption than molestar ('to bother') — it implies upsetting an order or state of calm: perturbar el orden público ('to disturb public order'). Applied to a person, it can mean to unsettle mentally or emotionally. The adjective perturbador/perturbadora ('disturbing, unsettling') is common in literary and critical writing.

Examples

"El ruido de la calle perturbó su concentración."

Natural Translation

The street noise disturbed his concentration.

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