lucha
/LOO-cha/
fight
When lucha means 'fight', it refers to a physical conflict or wrestling.
📝 In Action
En México, la lucha libre es muy popular.
A2In Mexico, freestyle wrestling is very popular.
Hubo una breve lucha entre los dos niños por el juguete.
B1There was a brief fight between the two children over the toy.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Noun Rule
Even though many nouns ending in -a are feminine, remember that lucha specifically takes the feminine article (la lucha).
⭐ Usage Tips
Sport vs. Verb
If you want to talk about the sport of wrestling, use lucha (the noun). If you want to say 'to wrestle' or 'to fight,' use the verb luchar.
Lucha can also mean 'struggle', representing an effort against difficulty.
lucha(noun)
struggle
?effort against difficulty
,battle
?metaphorical confrontation
campaign
?social movement
📝 In Action
La lucha contra la pobreza es global.
B1The struggle against poverty is global.
Superar la enfermedad fue una lucha constante.
B2Overcoming the illness was a constant battle.
💡 Grammar Points
Connecting the Fight
Use the preposition contra (against) or por (for) immediately after lucha to explain the purpose of the struggle: lucha contra el mal, lucha por la justicia.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Para' Instead of 'Por'
Mistake: "La lucha para la libertad."
Correction: La lucha *por* la libertad. (When the fight benefits a cause or goal, use *por*.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Stronger than 'Problema'
Use lucha when the problem requires immense effort or resistance over a long period. It implies a serious, ongoing difficulty, much stronger than just 'a problem' (un problema).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: lucha
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses *lucha* in its abstract sense, meaning a great effort?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'lucha' the same as 'pelea'?
They are similar, but not exactly the same. *Pelea* usually refers to a direct, often aggressive physical fight (like a quarrel or street fight). *Lucha* can be a physical fight, but it is also widely used for large, long-term, non-physical efforts, like 'the struggle for justice,' where *pelea* wouldn't fit as well.