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discutir

dis-koo-TEER/dis.kuˈtiɾ/

discuss

Also: talk over, confer
VerbA2regular ir
Two friendly characters sitting at a table having a calm conversation, illustrating the act of discussion.
infinitivediscutir
gerunddiscutiendo
past Participlediscutido

📝 In Action

Discutiremos el nuevo presupuesto en la reunión de mañana.

A2

We will discuss the new budget in tomorrow's meeting.

Es importante discutir los problemas antes de que crezcan.

B1

It is important to discuss problems before they grow.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • discutir un tema – to discuss a topic
  • discutir ideas – to discuss ideas

argue

Also: quarrel, dispute
VerbB1regular irneutral/informal
Spain
Two characters standing close together with angry expressions and crossed arms, illustrating a heated argument.
infinitivediscutir
gerunddiscutiendo
past Participlediscutido

📝 In Action

No me gusta discutir con mi jefe.

A2

I don't like to argue with my boss.

Están discutiendo por quién tiene que lavar los platos.

B1

They are arguing over who has to wash the dishes.

El jugador discutió la decisión del árbitro.

B2

The player disputed the referee's decision.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • pelear (to fight/quarrel)
  • debatir (to debate (more formal))

Antonyms

  • estar de acuerdo (to agree)

Common Collocations

  • discutir con alguien – to argue with someone
  • discutir por tonterías – to argue over nonsense

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/usteddiscute
yodiscuto
túdiscutes
ellos/ellas/ustedesdiscuten
nosotrosdiscutimos
vosotrosdiscutís

imperfect

él/ella/usteddiscutía
yodiscutía
túdiscutías
ellos/ellas/ustedesdiscutían
nosotrosdiscutíamos
vosotrosdiscutíais

preterite

él/ella/usteddiscutió
yodiscutí
túdiscutiste
ellos/ellas/ustedesdiscutieron
nosotrosdiscutimos
vosotrosdiscutisteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/usteddiscuta
yodiscuta
túdiscutas
ellos/ellas/ustedesdiscutan
nosotrosdiscutamos
vosotrosdiscutáis

imperfect

él/ella/usteddiscutiera
yodiscutiera
túdiscutieras
ellos/ellas/ustedesdiscutieran
nosotrosdiscutiéramos
vosotrosdiscutierais
View All Tenses & Moods →

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "discutir" in Spanish:

argue→confer→discuss→dispute→quarrel→talk over→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: discutir

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'discutir' in the sense of 'to argue'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
la discusión(the discussion; the argument) — Noun
discutible(debatable) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word *discutere*, which originally meant 'to shatter' or 'to disperse.' Over time, it evolved to mean 'to examine' or 'to debate,' reflecting the way opposing arguments can break down a topic.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: discussFrench: discuter

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if 'discutir' means 'discuss' or 'argue'?

Context is everything! If the word 'con' (with) is used, as in 'discutir con mi hermana,' it means 'to argue.' If a topic or thing follows immediately, as in 'discutir el tema,' it means 'to talk about' or 'to discuss.'

Is 'discutir' a difficult verb to conjugate?

No, it is a completely regular -IR verb. Once you know the pattern for one regular -IR verb (like 'vivir'), you know how to conjugate 'discutir' in every tense.