Meaning

As a verb, "bug" means annoy or bother. "It bugs me" means it annoys me. "What's bugging you?" means "What's worrying you?" or "What's on your mind?" The picture is a little insect that won't leave you alone, buzzing around your head until you can't think of anything else. That's why "bug" is often about small, repeated annoyances, or a worry that keeps coming back.

It is informal, very common in American English, and mostly mild. "Sorry to bug you" is a friendly, polite way to start a message when you need a small favor. The sharp version is "Stop bugging me", which can sound rude and dismissive, especially to a child or a partner. The noun meanings are worth knowing too: an insect, an error in software, a short illness ("a stomach bug"), and a sudden interest ("she caught the travel bug").

In a conversation

LucasHana
  1. Lucas
  2. Hana
  3. Lucas
  4. Hana
  5. Lucas
  6. Hana

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

Check yourself

1Lucas asks "What's bugging you?" What does he want to know?
2Why did Hana's sister get upset?

Practice · 3 min

Listen, then repeat. "Bug" is short and punchy. "Sorry to bug you" is soft and friendly.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.