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pelean

peh-LEH-ahnpeˈle.an

“pelean” means “they fight” in Spanish (physical or verbal conflict).

they fight, you all fight

Also: they argue, they struggle
VerbA2regular ar
Latin America
Two cartoon goats with their horns locked together in a playful struggle on a grassy hill.
gerundpeleando
past Participlepeleado
infinitivepelear

📝 In Action

Mis hermanos siempre pelean por el control remoto.

A2

My brothers are always fighting over the remote control.

Ellos pelean para proteger sus tierras.

B1

They are fighting to protect their lands.

Ustedes no pelean, solo discuten un poco.

A2

You all aren't fighting, you're just arguing a little.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • concilian (they reconcile)
  • pactan (they reach an agreement)

Common Collocations

  • pelean como perros y gatos – they fight like cats and dogs
  • pelean por nada – they fight over nothing

Idioms & Expressions

  • pelear a capa y espada – to fight tooth and nail for something

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedespelearan
yopeleara
túpelearas
vosotrospelearais
nosotrospeleáramos
él/ella/ustedpeleara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedespeleen
yopelee
túpelees
vosotrospeleéis
nosotrospeleemos
él/ella/ustedpelee

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedespelearon
yopeleé
túpeleaste
vosotrospeleasteis
nosotrospeleamos
él/ella/ustedpeleó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedespeleaban
yopeleaba
túpeleabas
vosotrospeleabais
nosotrospeleábamos
él/ella/ustedpeleaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedespelean
yopeleo
túpeleas
vosotrospeleáis
nosotrospeleamos
él/ella/ustedpelea
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "pelean" in Spanish:

they argue→they fight→they struggle→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: pelean

Question 1 of 2

If you see two cats hissing and swiping at each other, which word describes what they are doing?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
pelea(a fight (noun)) — Noun
peleador(fighter) — Noun
peleón(quarrelsome/feisty) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the word 'pelo' (hair). In ancient times, a common way to fight was to pull each other's hair!

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: pelejam

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'pelean' only for physical violence?

No! It is very frequently used to mean 'to argue' or 'to bicker' between friends, siblings, or couples.

What is the difference between 'pelean' and 'se pelean'?

They are mostly interchangeable when talking about people fighting each other. 'Se pelean' emphasizes that the action is happening between the members of the group.