competir
“competir” means “to compete” in Spanish (striving for a common goal).
to compete, to contendAlso: to vie
📝 In Action
Todos los equipos compiten por el trofeo.
A2All the teams compete for the trophy.
Las empresas deben competir con precios justos.
B1Companies must compete with fair prices.
No compito con mi hermana; ella es mucho mejor.
B1I don't compete with my sister; she is much better.
Es difícil competir contra gigantes tecnológicos.
B2It is difficult to compete against technological giants.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "competir" in Spanish:
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: competir
Question 1 of 2
Which form of 'competir' is correct for 'They competed in the marathon' (Preterite tense)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
Comes from the Latin verb *competere*, which meant 'to meet together' or 'to agree', but later evolved to mean 'to strive together toward a goal' or 'to contend.'
First recorded: Medieval Latin
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'competir' a regular verb?
No, it is an irregular verb. The 'e' in the middle changes to an 'i' in many forms, especially in the present tense (compito, compites, compite) and the simple past (compitió, compitieron).
What is the difference between 'competir' and 'luchar'?
Both mean 'to strive,' but 'competir' specifically means striving against others for a prize or goal (like in a sport). 'Luchar' often implies a more general struggle or fight (like 'luchar por la paz' – to fight for peace).