How to Say "quarrel" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “quarrel” is “discutir” — use 'discutir' when referring to a verbal disagreement or argument, often a petty one, between people. It focuses on the act of talking things out heatedly.
discutir
dis-koo-TEERdis.kuˈtiɾ
Examples
No me gusta discutir con mi jefe.
I don't like to argue with my boss.
Están discutiendo por quién tiene que lavar los platos.
They are arguing over who has to wash the dishes.
El jugador discutió la decisión del árbitro.
The player disputed the referee's decision.
The Preposition 'Con'
When 'discutir' means 'to argue,' you MUST use the word 'con' (with) before the person you are arguing with: 'Discutió con su hermano' (He argued with his brother).
The Preposition 'Por'
To explain the reason for the argument, use 'por': 'Discutimos por dinero' (We argued over money).
pelea
peh-LEH-ahpeˈle.a
Examples
Los niños tuvieron una pelea por el juguete.
The children had a fight over the toy.
Después de la pelea, no se hablaron por una semana.
After the argument, they didn't speak to each other for a week.
La vida es una pelea constante por nuestros sueños.
Life is a constant struggle for our dreams.
Using 'Tener una pelea'
To talk about a specific argument or fight that happened, you'll often use the phrase 'tener una pelea', which literally means 'to have a fight'. For example, 'Ayer tuve una pelea con mi jefe' (Yesterday I had an argument with my boss).
Fight vs. Struggle
Mistake: “Thinking 'pelea' only means a physical fight with fists.”
Correction: 'Pelea' is very flexible. It can be a verbal argument ('una pelea de pareja' - a couple's quarrel) or a metaphorical struggle ('la pelea contra la injusticia' - the fight against injustice).
pleito
PLAY-tohˈplei.to
Examples
Ellos siempre tienen un pleito por la limpieza de la casa.
They always have a fight about cleaning the house.
No busques pleito con los vecinos.
Don't look for trouble/fights with the neighbors.
Se armó un pleito enorme en la fiesta.
A huge fight broke out at the party.
Using 'Con'
When you want to say who the fight is with, use 'con' (with), just like in English: 'un pleito con mi hermano'.
Not just physical
Mistake: “Thinking 'pleito' only means a fistfight.”
Correction: It usually refers to a long-running argument or a verbal dispute.
querella
keh-REH-yahkeˈɾeʝa
Examples
Las viejas querellas entre las dos familias duraron décadas.
The old feuds between the two families lasted for decades.
No quiero participar en vuestras querellas domésticas.
I don't want to take part in your domestic quarrels.
El poema habla de las querellas del corazón.
The poem speaks of the laments (sorrows) of the heart.
Plural Usage
In this literary sense, 'querella' is very often used in the plural ('querellas') to describe a series of arguments or a complicated history of fighting.
Distinguishing 'pelea' and 'pleito'
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