How to Say "we fought" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “we fought” is “luchamos” — use 'luchamos' when referring to a completed past action that involved significant effort, struggle, or a determined attempt to achieve something, often against adversity.
Use 'luchamos' when referring to a completed past action that involved significant effort, struggle, or a determined attempt to achieve something, often against adversity.
Learn more →
Use 'peleamos' for a past action that is finished and typically refers to a dispute, argument, or a more common, less intense form of fighting, often between people who know each other.
Learn more →loo-CHAH-mohsluˈtʃamos
Examples
Ayer luchamos valientemente pero perdimos.
Yesterday we fought bravely but we lost.
En esa época, luchamos mucho para sobrevivir.
At that time, we struggled a lot to survive.
The Past Meaning
When used in the past (the preterite), 'luchamos' describes a specific event that started and finished.
peh-leh-AH-mohspe.le.ˈa.mos
Examples
A veces peleamos por el control remoto.
Sometimes we fight over the remote control.
Ayer peleamos, pero ya todo está bien.
Yesterday we fought, but everything is fine now.
Peleamos por un futuro mejor para nuestros hijos.
We struggle for a better future for our children.
The Dual-Time Form
In Spanish, -ar verbs like 'pelear' use the exact same form for 'we do' (present) and 'we did' (past). You have to look at the other words in the sentence to know which time is being talked about.
Using it for 'Discussing'
Mistake: “Using 'peleamos' when you just had a friendly talk.”
Correction: Use 'discutimos' or 'hablamos'. 'Peleamos' implies a conflict, anger, or physical fighting.
Distinguishing Effort vs. Argument
Learners often confuse 'luchamos' and 'peleamos' by using 'peleamos' for serious struggles. Remember that 'luchamos' implies a greater degree of effort or a fight for a cause, while 'peleamos' is more for arguments or less intense conflicts.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.