pelear
“pelear” means “to fight” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to fight
Also: to scuffle, to brawl
📝 In Action
Los niños empezaron a pelear por el juguete.
A2The children started to fight over the toy.
¿Viste la pelea? Fue muy rápida.
B1Did you see the fight? It was very quick.
Los boxeadores deben pelear en su peso.
B1Boxers must fight in their weight class.
to argue, to quarrel
Also: to fall out
📝 In Action
Mis padres siempre pelean por el dinero.
A2My parents always argue about money.
María y yo nos peleamos por un malentendido.
B1Maria and I quarreled (fought) over a misunderstanding. (Note: using 'nos peleamos' means 'we fought each other'.)
No quiero pelear contigo hoy, estoy cansado.
A2I don't want to argue with you today, I am tired.
to struggle, to compete
Also: to fight (for a cause)
📝 In Action
Tenemos que pelear por nuestros derechos en el trabajo.
B1We have to fight for our rights at work.
Ella pelea contra la injusticia en su comunidad.
B2She struggles against injustice in her community.
El equipo va a pelear por el campeonato.
B1The team is going to compete for the championship.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
🔀 Commonly Confused With
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "pelear" in Spanish:
to argue→to brawl→to compete→to fight→to quarrel→to scuffle→to struggle→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pelear
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'pelear' in the sense of a prolonged, figurative struggle?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the vulgar Latin word *pīlum*, meaning a type of mortar or pestle, suggesting a core concept of hitting, striking, or pounding things together. This evolved into the general Spanish term for conflict.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'pelear' and 'luchar'?
'Pelear' usually suggests a more intense, direct, or aggressive confrontation, often personal (a physical fight or a mean argument). 'Luchar' is broader; it means 'to struggle' or 'to wrestle' and often refers to continuous effort or organized fighting (like military combat or fighting for a political cause).
How do I say 'They fell out (stopped being friends)'?
You should use the reflexive form: 'Ellos se pelearon' (They had a fight/quarrel) or, more clearly, 'Ellos se pelearon y no se hablan' (They fell out and aren't speaking to each other).