debate
“debate” means “debate” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
debate, discussion
Also: argument
📝 In Action
El debate presidencial duró dos horas sin interrupciones.
A2The presidential debate lasted two hours without interruptions.
Abrimos un debate sobre la mejor forma de aprender español.
B1We opened a discussion about the best way to learn Spanish.
he/she/it debates
Also: you (formal) debate
📝 In Action
El profesor siempre debate temas difíciles con la clase.
A2The professor always debates difficult topics with the class.
El equipo debate si debemos cambiar la estrategia o no.
B1The team debates whether we should change the strategy or not.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: debate
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'debate' as a noun?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin verb *debattuere*, which meant 'to fight down' or 'to beat down.' Over time, the meaning softened from physical fighting to intellectual fighting (arguing or discussing).
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'debate' always formal, or can I use it for everyday disagreements?
'Debate' is generally reserved for formal, structured discussions (like a school project or a political forum). For a casual disagreement or chat, it's better to use 'discusión' or 'conversación'.
If I want to say 'to debate' in Spanish, what is the infinitive verb?
The infinitive verb is 'debatir.' 'Debate' is just one of its conjugated forms (like 'he debates' or 'you debate').