combatir
/kom-bah-TEER/
to fight
When you physically oppose an enemy or opponent, you combatir (fight).
combatir(verb)
to fight
?against an enemy or opponent
,to combat
?in a military or literal sense
to battle
?physical conflict
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Contra'
When you specify what or who you are fighting, you almost always need the preposition 'contra' (against): 'Ellos combatieron contra la invasión.'
To combatir (fight against) a problem or disease, like using medicine or prevention, is a common usage of this verb.
combatir(verb)
to fight against
?a problem or disease
,to counteract
?to take action against something bad
to tackle
?a major issue
,to curb
?limiting something negative
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Direct Object Use
Unlike the physical meaning, when 'combatir' refers to fighting a problem (like inflation or crime), you often treat the problem as a direct object without needing 'contra': 'Combatir la corrupción' (To fight corruption).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Luchar' and 'Combatir'
Mistake: "Using 'luchar' instead of 'combatir' in formal news headlines about policy."
Correction: While 'luchar' (to struggle) is also fine, 'combatir' implies a more direct, structured action or policy against the problem. 'Combatir' is usually preferred in political or scientific reports.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Language
'Combatir' lends a serious, official tone. Use it when discussing large-scale problems or organized efforts, not usually for minor personal disagreements.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
imperfect
present
preterite
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: combatir
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'combatir' in the abstract sense of counteracting a problem?
📚 More Resources
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).