combatir
“combatir” means “to fight” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to fight, to combat
Also: to battle
📝 In Action
Los soldados están listos para combatir al enemigo.
B1The soldiers are ready to fight the enemy.
La tropa combatió valientemente durante la noche.
B2The troop fought bravely throughout the night.
to fight against, to counteract
Also: to tackle, to curb
📝 In Action
El gobierno implementó medidas para combatir la inflación.
B2The government implemented measures to fight inflation.
Este medicamento ayuda a combatir los síntomas del resfriado.
B1This medicine helps counteract cold symptoms.
Es crucial combatir la desinformación en las redes sociales.
C1It is crucial to tackle misinformation on social media.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
imperfect
present
preterite
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "combatir" in Spanish:
to battle→to combat→to counteract→to curb→to fight→to tackle→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: combatir
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'combatir' in the abstract sense of counteracting a problem?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *combattere*, formed by combining *com-* (meaning 'together' or 'with') and *battuere* (meaning 'to strike' or 'to beat'). The meaning has always been focused on fighting or striking against someone or something.
First recorded: c. 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'combatir' the same as 'luchar'?
They are very similar! 'Luchar' generally emphasizes the struggle or effort involved, and is often used for personal or political struggles. 'Combatir' usually implies a more direct, organized action taken against a specific enemy, threat, or problem, and sounds more formal or military.
Does 'combatir' require a preposition?
It depends on the context! If you are fighting a physical enemy, you usually use 'contra' (combatir contra el ejército). But if you are fighting a non-physical problem (like inflation), you often use it without a preposition, treating the problem as the direct receiver of the action (combatir la inflación).