controversia
“controversia” means “controversy” in Spanish (a public disagreement or debate).
controversy
Also: dispute, polemic
📝 In Action
La nueva ley de transporte causó mucha controversia en la ciudad.
B1The new transportation law caused a lot of controversy in the city.
Es un tema de gran controversia entre los científicos.
B2It is a subject of great controversy among scientists.
Para evitar la controversia, el director decidió no hablar de política.
C1To avoid controversy, the director decided not to talk about politics.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: controversia
Question 1 of 3
Which verb is most commonly paired with 'controversia' to say something 'started' it?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'controversia', which combines 'contra' (against) and 'versus' (turned). It literally describes a situation where opinions are turned against each other.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'controversia' the same as 'polémica'?
Almost! They are synonyms. 'Polémica' often implies a more aggressive or heated public debate, while 'controversia' can feel slightly more academic or formal.
Can I use 'controversia' in the plural?
Yes, 'las controversias' is perfectly correct when referring to multiple different disputed topics.
How do I say 'uncontroversial'?
You can say 'que no genera controversia' or use the adjective 'indiscutible' (unquestionable) or 'aceptado' (accepted).