Trying to express your feelings is very important, especially if you’re learning a new language. I still remember how frustrating it was when I was trying to express myself in a new language. Sometimes I couldn’t find the words so it was easier just to give up.
Well, that’s why we want to put this article out there for you, even if you’re one of those people who never (or almost never) gets angry. There will be a time when you need to express that you are angry in Spanish.
Learn how to say “angry” in Spanish, how to express your feelings and when, and most importantly, how to spot when someone is being angry in Spanish toward you.
Spanish is a romance language not only because it comes from Latin, but because you can express so many emotions, feelings, and meanings with it—not only with words, but also with gestures, body language, and physical touch.
It’s normal to find a gap between your feelings, how you should express them, and what they can mean. In Spanish, you can express your emotions by learning the local expressions.
Learn the most common Spanish angry phrases with some specific vocabulary and colloquial words with SpanishPod101. You can start expressing yourself no matter your level!
Table of Contents
- How Do You Say “Angry” in Spanish?
- Angry Imperatives
- Angry Warnings
- Angry Blames
- How to Tell Someone to Calm Down
- Conclusion
1. How Do You Say “Angry” in Spanish?
To express that you feel angry in Spanish, you need to know the verb “to be”: Ser or Estar.
These verbs can both be used with adjectives. However, when it comes to expressing your emotions in Spanish, it’s easy—you just need to use the verb estar.
Formula
The verb “to be” in the present tense: Estoy + Adjective.
Examples of the Spanish word for “angry”:
There are a few different words for “angry” in Spanish. The most common ones are:
- Enojado(-a) (Latin American Spanish)
- Enfadado(-a)
- Molesto(-a)
Saying “I am upset” or “I am angry” in Spanish:
- Estoy enojado(-a).
- Estoy enfadado(-a).
- Estoy molesto(-a).
Once you know these, you can start really using the Spanish word for “angry.” In addition, you should know the local angry phrases in Spanish to help you express your emotions.
2. Angry Imperatives
1- ¡Para ya!
Literal Translation:
“Stop it right now!”
Meaning:
You use this phrase when someone is really annoying you, and you’re starting to feel that anger inside of you, running through each inch of your body. To get that person to stop doing what they’re doing, you say ¡Para ya!
Example Situation:
A mom is with her child in the shopping center, and the child is running around and being rambunctious. This is making the mother feel nervous, so she yells ¡Para ya! to tell her child to stop.
Usage in a Sentence:
Por favor Antonio, ¡para ya!
“Please Antonio, stop it right now!”
2- Como quieras.
Literal Translation:
“Whatever.”
Meaning:
This expression is used when you feel angry in Spanish for something and you want to end the conversation.
Example Situation:
Your partner wants to visit his/her parents for the holidays, and wants you to agree with that decision. You, of course, want to visit your own parents, but your partner is getting very angry because he/she wants you to give in. You finally give up and say Como quieras or “whatever,” showing that you cede—but you’re not feeling happy about it.
Usage in a Sentence:
Como quieras, igual a ti te gusta tener siempre la razón.
“Whatever, you like to always be right anyway.”
3- ¿Y qué?
Literal Translation:
“So what?”
Meaning:
This is one of the best angry Spanish sayings to show indifference about something and to tell the other person you don’t really care.
Example Situation:
Someone is judging you for something, so you use this expression to emphasize that you don’t care about their opinions.
Usage in a Sentence:
Sí, tengo 40 años, ¿y qué?
“Yes, I’m 40 years old, so what?”
3. Angry Warnings
1- Estoy hasta los huevos/las narices/el moño.
Literal Translation:
“I am up to my balls/nose/bun.”
Meaning:
This expression is used when you’re very tired or upset about something or with someone. The equivalent in English can be something like “I’ve had enough of my job.”
Example Situation:
If you work in a bar and there’s an angry Spanish man there, you can say Estoy hasta las narices de este tío, or “I’ve had enough of this man.”
Usage in a Sentence:
Estos hasta las narices de mi trabajo.
“I’ve had enough of my job.”
2- Vete a freír espárragos.
Literal Translation:
“Go to fry asparagus.”
Meaning:
This expression is often used to be angry in Spanish because it basically means “go to hell” but more politely, without using bad words.
Example Situation:
If you’re arguing with someone and you want to end the conversation, you send them to fry asparagus.
Usage in a Sentence:
Si no te gusta, vete a freír espárragos.
“If you don’t like it, go to hell.”
3- No me busques porque me encuentras. (Latin American Spanish)
Literal Translation:
“Do not look for me, because you will find me.”
Meaning:
If you want to argue, bring it on.
Example Situation:
You can use this when you encounter someone who wants to argue, even though you don’t want to. So you tell them: No me busques porque me encuentras. In English, this would be like saying “Don’t push your luck.” This is one of the most common angry Spanish phrases in Mexico.
Usage in a Sentence:
No quiero discutir, así que no me busques porque me encuentras.
“I do not want to argue, so don’t push your luck.”
4- Te voy a decir por donde sale el sol. (Latin American Spanish)
Literal Translation:
“I will tell you where the sun rises.”
Meaning:
This expression means “I am angry” in Spanish, and that you need to talk with that person.
Example Situation:
Your partner is late again and you’re not happy about it. Use this phrase to let him/her know you want to talk about it.
Usage in a Sentence:
Esta vez le voy a decir por donde sale el sol.
“This time I will tell her from where the sun rises.”
5- Que te den.
Literal Translation:
“F*ck off.”
Meaning:
This is an extremely offensive expression, and it’s used to tell someone to go away when you’re angry with them.
Example Situation:
A mother is arguing with her teenage son about tidying up his room. When her son refuses to do so, the mother punishes him by not allowing him to go out with his friends for a week. He says: Que te den.
Usage in a Sentence:
Si no te gusta que te den.
“If you do not like it, f*ck off.”
6- Estoy que echo chispas.
Literal Translation:
“I am about to give off sparks.”
Meaning:
This expression means that you’re very angry in Spanish. It’s a warning to the other person not to come any closer because you’re about to explode.
Example Situation:
You’re arguing with someone, and another person comes along. You can tell them: Estoy que echo chispas, or “I am about to explode.”
Usage in a Sentence:
No te metas conmigo que estoy que echo chispas.
“Do not come any closer because I am about to explode.”
7- Estoy de una mala uva/leche/hostia.
Literal Translation:
“I am of such a bad grape/milk/communion bread.”
Meaning:
Yes! This is one of the most common Spanish phrases when angry, especially in Spain. However, in Latin American Spanish, you’ll never hear this. This expression means that you’re in a bad mood.
Example Situation:
This one is used in a variety of everyday situations when you just want to explain yourself to someone.
Usage in a Sentence:
Estoy de una mala leche mi jefe no me ha dejado salir temprano hoy.
“I am in such a bad mood today; my boss did not let me leave early.”
8- Me estoy calentando.
Literal Translation:
“I am getting hot.”
Meaning:
This means “I am angry” in Spanish. The equivalent English translation is something like “You’re getting on my nerves.”
Example Situation:
If you’re arguing with someone and the conversation doesn’t look like it’ll stop anytime soon, you can say Me estoy calentando.
Usage in a Sentence:
Basta ya que me estoy calentando.
“Stop it already, I am getting angry.”
9- El horno no está para bollos.
Literal Translation:
“The oven is not open for buns.”
Meaning:
This expression is used when you’re not in a good mood, and you don’t want to hear anything else that makes the situation worse.
Example Situation:
You’re already angry, and then someone wants to tell you that they’ve lost your favorite book. Well, you can tell them El horno no está para bollos.
Usage in a Sentence:
Acabo de chocar el coche así que no me digas nada que el horno no está para bollos.
“I just crashed the car, so do not tell me anything else.”
10- Te voy a cantar las cuarenta.
Literal Translation:
“I will sing the forty to you.”
Meaning:
Do you need to let someone know you’re angry in Spanish? This expression is the best way to do this. If someone says this to you, you’re in trouble, especially if you’ve done something to upset that person. This phrase is used to initiate a serious talk.
Example Situation:
If you’re talking to someone about how angry you are at someone else, you can use this expression to be angry in Spanish. Mothers also commonly use this phrase with their children when there’s something that needs to be talked about at home.
Usage in a Sentence:
Le voy a cantar las cuarenta a mi hermano.
“I am angry with my brother, I will talk to him.”
Te voy a cantar las cuarenta cuando lleguemos a casa.
“We will talk about it when we get home.”
11- Qué morro/cara tienes.
Literal Translation:
“You have such a big snout/face.”
Meaning:
You can use this expression to say that you’re angry in Spanish. In particular, this is one of the best Spanish phrases for angry people to use if someone is taking advantage of them, someone else, or a situation.
Example Situation:
If your brother is always asking you for favors and he never does anything for you in return, you can say Qué morro tienes.
Usage in a Sentence:
Mi hermano siempre me devuelve el coche sin gasolina, qué morro tiene.
“My brother always brings back my car without fuel, he has such a big snout.”
12- Te estás pasando.
Literal Translation:
“You are going too far now.”
Meaning:
You should stop now because you’re taking the situation too far.
Example Situation:
Sometimes when you’re angry, you may bring other subjects into the conversation or situation. In this case, the other person may say Te estas pasando so you can understand you’re going too far with it.
Usage in a Sentence:
No hay necesidad de hacer ese comentario, te estás pasando.
“There is no need to say that, you are going too far now.”
4. Angry Blames
1- A ti te dejaron caer cuando eras pequeño. (Latin American Spanish)
Literal Translation:
“You were dropped on the floor when you were a kid.”
Meaning:
If you’re talking to someone and you don’t get the messages they’re trying to send, they’ll tell you A ti te dejaron caer cuando eras pequeño. This is basically a way of calling someone dumb.
Example Situation:
This expression can be a subtle way to say “you’re dumb” to someone, especially in Latin American Spanish.
Usage in a Sentence:
¿Cómo que no entiendes lo que pasa? A ti te dejaron caer cuando eras pequeño, ¿verdad?
“What do you mean you don’t get it, are you dumb or what?”
2- Más tonto y no naces.
Literal Translation:
“If you were dumber, you would not have been born.”
Meaning:
This expression is another way to tell someone how dumb they are for not understanding the situation.
Example Situation:
In a situation where an angry Spanish woman is trying to explain herself, if you don’t get it, she’ll give up and say Más tonto y no naces.
Usage in a Sentence:
Estoy de mala leche, ¿no lo entiendes? Es que más tonto y no naces.
“Can you see I am angry? Should I spell it out for you?”
3- No te metas donde no te llaman.
Literal Translation:
“Do not be nosey.”
Meaning:
This expression means not to argue or say anything about a certain situation if it has nothing to do with you.
Example Situation:
If two people are arguing and you want to say or add something to their conversation, one of them can tell you No te metas donde no te llaman. In other words, “mind your own business.”
Usage in a Sentence:
Estoy hablando con mi madre en privado, no te metas donde no te llaman.
“I’m talking with my mom in private; please, mind your own business.”
4- Te voy a bajar los humos.
Literal Translation:
“Take down the wind of somebody’s sail.”
Meaning:
This expression is used when you’re angry because someone is behaving with superiority. The equivalent in English could be “Do not patronize me.”
Example Situation:
You can use this when you’re with a colleague and they talk to you like she or he is your boss.
Usage in a Sentence:
Baja un poco los humos y deja de gritarme, que tú no eres mi jefe.
“Do not patronize me, you are not my boss.”
5- Me estás buscando las cosquillas.
Literal Translation:
“You are looking for my tickling.”
Meaning:
This means that someone wants to argue with you, and is intentionally doing things to start a fight.
Example Situation:
If your partner is teasing you in order to start a fight, you can tell him/her this.
Usage in a Sentence:
Me estás buscando las cosquillas.
“You are looking for troubles and I won’t laugh.”
6- Te voy a poner los puntos sobre las íes.
Literal Translation:
“I will put the dots over the letter ‘i’.”
Meaning:
This expression is very common when you’re letting someone know you’re angry in Spanish. It means that you’re angry, and no matter what their excuse is, they’re going to hear what you have to say.
Example Situation:
Imagine your friend is late and you’ve been waiting for a long time. She or he is on the phone with you, so you make it clear during the call that you have something to say.
Usage in a Sentence:
Siempre me hace lo mismo, le voy a poner los puntos sobre las íes.
“It’s always like that, (s)he will hear what I have to say about it.”
5. How to Tell Someone to Calm Down
1- Relájate / Cálmate
Literal Translation:
“Relax” or “Calm down”
Meaning:
This word in Spanish is used to tell someone to chill out.
Example Situation:
This word is more informal than saying “calm down” in Spanish. You can use this with your friends and family, because if you use it with other people, it may make the situation worse.
Usage in a Sentence:
Relájate, que te puede dar un infarto.
“Chill out, you may get a heart attack.”
Cálmate, que no es para tanto.
“Calm down, there is no need to be like that.”
2- No pasa nada.
Literal Translation:
“Nothing is happening.”
Meaning:
This expression is used to ease or stop the situation.
Example Situation:
If you’re arguing with someone and that person realizes that they were wrong, you can say No pasa nada, or “It’s okay, no worries!”
Usage in a Sentence:
A: Creo que me pasé con el comentario.
B: ¡No pasa nada!
A: “I think I went too far with my comment.”
B: “It’s nothing, no worries!”
6. Conclusion
It’s very common to want to express our feelings and emotions. The first words we usually learn for this are curse words, but it’s important to learn how to express your anger in Spanish without them. It’s a process, and SpanishPod101 is here to help you learn more about how to express your feelings in Spanish.
Do you feel more confident about expressing your anger in Spanish now? Drop us a comment to let us know, and be sure to continue practicing the phrases in this article (but not too much!). We look forward to hearing from you!
