batalla
“batalla” means “battle” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
battle, fight
Also: combat
📝 In Action
La batalla duró tres días y fue muy sangrienta.
A2The battle lasted three days and was very bloody.
Estudiamos las batallas más importantes de la historia.
B1We are studying the most important battles in history.
struggle, fight
Also: ordeal
📝 In Action
Su recuperación fue una larga batalla contra la enfermedad.
B1His recovery was a long struggle against the illness.
Cada día es una batalla para conseguir terminar el proyecto.
B2Every day is a fight to manage to finish the project.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: batalla
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'batalla' in its figurative sense (a struggle)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from Old Spanish 'batalla', which ultimately derived from Vulgar Latin *battualia, meaning 'a place for beating or striking'. It shares roots with the word 'batter' in English.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'batalla' only used for major wars?
No. While 'batalla' often describes major military clashes, it is very commonly used metaphorically to describe any significant, long, or difficult effort, like fighting an illness or completing a major project.
What is the difference between 'batalla' and 'lucha'?
'Batalla' usually implies a large, organized fight, whether military or figurative. 'Lucha' is often more personal and focuses on the act of struggling or wrestling. In figurative senses (like social justice), they are nearly interchangeable.