atrapalhar

Senses

1. 1.

   to hinder, to interfere with, to get in the way

   to obstruct or impede someone's actions or progress

2. 2.

   to bother, to disturb

   to cause inconvenience or annoyance to someone

3. 3.

   to confuse, to muddle

   to cause mental confusion or mix things up

Examples

• "Desculpa atrapalhar, mas você tem um minuto?"

  Sorry to bother you, but do you have a minute?

• "O barulho da obra está atrapalhando minha concentração."

  The construction noise is interfering with my concentration.

• "Ele sempre me atrapalha quando estou trabalhando."

  He always gets in my way when I'm working.

Usage

Very common in everyday Brazilian Portuguese. Often used with reflexive "se atrapalhar" meaning "to get confused/mixed up." Common collocations include "atrapalhar alguém" (to bother someone) and "não quero atrapalhar" (I don't want to intrude/be in the way). Register is neutral and appropriate for all contexts.