debate
/deh-BAH-teh/
debate
The noun debate refers to a formal discussion or 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Reminder
Even though 'debate' ends in -e, it is masculine: 'el debate'. Most words ending in -e can be masculine or feminine, so you must memorize the gender.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'la debate'
Mistake: "La debate fue muy interesante."
Correction: El debate fue muy interesante. (Remember to use the masculine article 'el'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Informal
Use 'debate' for formal, structured discussions (like in politics or school). Use 'discusión' for everyday conversations or arguments.
The verb form debate means 'he/she/it debates' or argues a point.
debate(verb)
he/she/it debates
?present tense action
you (formal) debate
?present tense action
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Verbs Ending in -ir
'Debatir' is a regular verb ending in -ir. This means it follows the standard pattern for verbs like 'vivir' (to live) and 'escribir' (to write). Once you learn one, you know many!
⭐ Usage Tips
The 'Tú' Command
The word 'debate' is also the informal command form for 'you' (tú): '¡Debate este punto con tu compañero!' (Debate this point with your partner!).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: debate
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'debate' as a noun?
📚 More Resources
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').