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duelo

DWEH-loh/ˈdwelo/

“duelo” means “grief” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

grief, mourning

Also: sorrow
NounmB1
A solitary figure wearing simple clothes sitting on the ground, hugging their knees, symbolizing profound sadness and grief. A large stylized teardrop is floating nearby.

📝 In Action

Después de la muerte de su abuelo, ella pasó por un largo duelo.

B1

After her grandfather's death, she went through a long period of mourning (grief).

El duelo es un proceso natural y necesario.

B1

Grief is a natural and necessary process.

La familia guardó duelo durante un año.

B2

The family observed a period of mourning for a year.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • luto (mourning (the state of wearing black))
  • pena (sorrow, sadness)

Antonyms

  • alegría (joy)

Common Collocations

  • guardar duelo – to observe a period of mourning
  • superar el duelo – to overcome grief

duel, contest

Also: showdown
NounmB2formal/literary
Two stylized figures in simple historical attire facing each other in an outdoor clearing, holding thin swords crossed in front of them, engaging in a formal duel.

📝 In Action

En el siglo XIX, los duelos con pistolas eran comunes entre caballeros.

B2

In the 19th century, duels with pistols were common among gentlemen.

El partido de ajedrez fue un duelo de titanes.

C1

The chess match was a contest (duel) between titans.

Se retaron a un duelo para resolver la disputa.

B2

They challenged each other to a duel to resolve the dispute.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • combate (combat, fight)
  • desafío (challenge)

Common Collocations

  • duelo a muerte – duel to the death
  • duelo verbal – verbal showdown

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "duelo" in Spanish:

contest→duel→grief→mourning→showdown→sorrow→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: duelo

Question 1 of 2

Which meaning of 'duelo' is used in the sentence: 'El equipo perdió el duelo final por un punto'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word 'duelo' comes from the Latin word *dolus*, meaning 'pain' or 'grief.' This root connects both the idea of suffering (grief/mourning) and the suffering inflicted in a fight (duel).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: duoloPortuguese: duelo

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'duelo' related to the verb 'doler' (to hurt)?

Yes, absolutely! They share the same root meaning 'pain.' However, 'duelo' is a noun (the pain itself, or the formal fight). The verb 'doler' means 'to hurt' or 'to ache,' and its 'yo' form (I hurt/I ache) is actually 'yo duELo', which is spelled exactly the same as the noun. This is a common point of confusion!

How do I know if 'duelo' means 'grief' or 'duel'?

Look at the surrounding words. If you see 'muerte' (death), 'pérdida' (loss), or 'luto' (mourning), it means grief. If you see 'pistola' (pistol), 'honor', or 'reto' (challenge), it means duel/contest.