How to Say "contentious" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “contentious” is “conflictivo” — B1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
No quiero trabajar con él porque es un empleado muy conflictivo.
I don't want to work with him because he is a very troublesome employee.
Ese es un barrio conflictivo por la noche.
That is a tough/problematic neighborhood at night.
La reforma de la ley es un tema conflictivo en el parlamento.
The law reform is a contentious issue in parliament.
Gender and Number Agreement
This word changes its ending to match what you are describing: 'un hombre conflictivo' (one man), 'una mujer conflictiva' (one woman), 'unos niños conflictivos' (boys), 'unas zonas conflictivas' (areas).
Using 'Ser' vs 'Estar'
We almost always use this word with 'ser' (to be) because it describes a person's character or the nature of a place, which are seen as lasting qualities.
Conflicting vs. Conflicted
Mistake: “Estoy muy conflictivo sobre qué decisión tomar.”
Correction: Estoy muy confundido (or 'tengo un dilema'). 'Conflictivo' means YOU are the one causing the trouble, not that you feel unsure.
Related Translations
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