molestasvsmolestiaWhat's the difference?

Quick tell: molestas is a verb, molestia is a noun, so they fill different roles in a sentence.

Which to use

“molestas” is a verb and “molestia” is a noun - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.

#19,497
“molestas” frequency rank
#7,461
“molestia” frequency rank
26958
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature molestas molestia
Definition Segunda persona del singular (tú) del presente de indicativo de molestar. Incomodidad, fatiga.

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set molestas and molestia apart are highlighted. They share 7 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

8 ch
molestas
8 ch
molestia

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: molestas is [moˈlest̪as] while molestia is [moˈlest̪ja]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions, and the parts of speech differ too (verb vs noun), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 26958, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

molestas is recorded at frequency rank #19,497, classified as averb, pronounced [moˈlest̪as]. molestia is at rank #7,461, tagged as anoun, pronounced [moˈlest̪ja].

Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.

With a confusion score of 26958, this pair ranks #229,114 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.

Orthographic DNA of molestas vs molestia

Shared letters: aelmost. Private to "molestas": -. Private to "molestia": i.

"molestas" · 8 letters · shape CVCVCCVC  ·  "molestia" · 8 letters · shape CVCVCCVV

Known mistypes of this pair

  • molestasmloestas · mmolestas · moelstas · molesats · molesstas · molestass · molestsa · molesttas
  • molestiamloestia · mmolestia · moelstia · molesita · molesstia · molestai · molesttia · moletsia

Frequency comparison

molestas#19,497
molestia#7,461

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "molestas" and "molestia" be used interchangeably?
No - they are not even the same part of speech. "molestas" is a verb and "molestia" a noun, so a sentence built for one is usually ungrammatical with the other.
Which is more common, "molestas" or "molestia"?
"molestia" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #7,461 in our Spanish list, against #19,497 for "molestas". The two are close in frequency, so neither is a safe default; check the meaning rather than guessing.

Remembering molestas vs molestia

The fastest way to pick the right one every time.

  • Check the role first: if you need a verb, it's “molestas”; for a noun, it's “molestia”.
  • See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “molestas” entry
  • Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list