lidiar
“lidiar” means “to deal with” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to deal with, to cope with
Also: to handle, to contend with
📝 In Action
Tengo que lidiar con mucho tráfico cada mañana.
A2I have to deal with a lot of traffic every morning.
¿Cómo lidiamos con este problema sin ayuda?
B1How do we cope with this problem without help?
Ella siempre lidia con clientes difíciles de manera profesional.
B2She always handles difficult clients in a professional manner.
to bullfight
Also: to fight (a bull)
📝 In Action
El torero debe lidiar al toro con gracia y valentía.
C1The bullfighter must fight the bull with grace and courage.
La plaza de toros estaba lista para lidiar seis toros bravos.
C1The bullring was ready to fight six brave bulls.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: lidiar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'lidiar' in its most common, everyday context?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *litigare*, meaning 'to dispute' or 'to fight.' It originally entered Spanish with the meaning of fighting or engaging in battle, which evolved into the specific meaning of bullfighting, and later broadened to mean 'struggling' or 'managing a difficulty' in general life.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'lidiar' always negative?
Not always negative, but it definitely implies effort or difficulty. You usually 'lidiar con' something that is tough or annoying, like traffic, stress, or a difficult boss. If something is easy, you would probably just 'manejar' (handle) it.
Does 'lidiar' require a preposition?
Yes, almost always in its modern sense! If you are dealing with a person or a problem, you must include the preposition 'con' (with): 'Lidio con mis vecinos' (I deal with my neighbors).