peleando
/peh-leh-AHN-doh/
fighting
Peleando can mean 'fighting' in the context of physical conflict.
peleando(Verb (Gerund))
fighting
?physical conflict
,brawling
?in a rough or noisy way
scuffling
?a short, confused fight
📝 In Action
Los niños estaban peleando por el juguete.
A2The children were fighting over the toy.
La policía llegó mientras los dos hombres seguían peleando.
B1The police arrived while the two men were still fighting.
💡 Grammar Points
The '-ando' Form
The word 'peleando' is the gerund, which is the Spanish version of the '-ing' form in English (like 'fighting'). It is essential for forming continuous tenses, usually with the verb 'estar' (to be).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Ser' instead of 'Estar'
Mistake: "Soy peleando."
Correction: Estoy peleando. Remember, continuous actions (what you are doing right now) almost always use 'estar' + the gerund.
⭐ Usage Tips
Adverbial Use
You can sometimes use 'peleando' on its own to describe how an action is being done, meaning 'while fighting' or 'by fighting.' Example: 'Ganó el juego, peleando hasta el final' (He won the game, fighting until the end).
When referring to a verbal disagreement, 'peleando' translates to 'arguing'.
peleando(Verb (Gerund))
arguing
?verbal disagreement
,quarreling
?having a heated dispute
disputing
?formal disagreement
📝 In Action
Mis padres siempre están peleando por la televisión.
B1My parents are always arguing over the television.
Están peleando sobre quién tiene la culpa.
B1They are quarreling about who is to blame.
💡 Grammar Points
The Preposition 'Por'
When you are arguing 'over' or 'about' the reason for the argument, use the preposition 'por' (por el dinero, por el juguete).
⭐ Usage Tips
Implied Conflict
While 'discutir' (to discuss/argue) is often used for verbal arguments, 'pelear' implies a more intense, sometimes hostile, disagreement.
'Peleando' can also mean 'struggling' or striving hard to achieve a difficult goal.
peleando(Verb (Gerund))
struggling
?striving hard to achieve a goal
,contending
?competing for a title or position
vying
?competing eagerly
📝 In Action
El equipo está peleando por el primer puesto en la liga.
B2The team is struggling/contending for first place in the league.
Llevamos meses peleando contra la burocracia.
C1We have been struggling against bureaucracy for months.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
In this context, 'peleando' moves beyond physical conflict to describe an intense, ongoing effort against an obstacle (like a disease, bureaucracy, or a competitor).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: peleando
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'peleando' in the sense of 'struggling against an obstacle' (Definition 3)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'peleando' and 'luchando'?
Both mean 'fighting' or 'struggling.' 'Peleando' often refers to direct conflict, like a fight or an argument. 'Luchando' is broader and frequently refers to a struggle for a cause, survival, or against a major difficulty (e.g., 'luchar por la libertad'—to fight for freedom). They are sometimes interchangeable, especially in the sense of 'contending.'
Is 'peleando' a complete verb on its own?
'Peleando' is a gerund, which means it describes the action ('fighting') but cannot be the main verb of a sentence without help. It must pair with a conjugated verb, most commonly 'estar' (estoy, estás, está, etc.) to form the continuous tense.