Inklingo

How to Say "we struggle" in Spanish

English → Spanish

luchamos

/loo-CHAH-mohs//luˈtʃamos/

verbA2general
Use 'luchamos' when describing a significant, ongoing effort to overcome major obstacles or achieve a difficult goal, often with a sense of determination.
Two friendly cartoon wrestlers in a playful grappling match on a blue mat.

Examples

Luchamos todos los días por un futuro mejor.

We struggle every day for a better future.

Hoy luchamos contra el cansancio para terminar el proyecto.

Today we are struggling against tiredness to finish the project.

The 'Twin' Tenses

In Spanish, the 'we' form for -ar verbs is exactly the same for both the present (now) and the preterite (the past). You have to use the rest of the sentence to know which one is being used!

Confusing 'For'

Mistake: “Luchamos para nuestros derechos.”

Correction: Luchamos por nuestros derechos. Use 'por' when talking about the cause or reason you are fighting.

peleamos

/peh-leh-AH-mohs//pe.le.ˈa.mos/

verbA2
Use 'peleamos' for a more direct, often argumentative, struggle or fight, which can be for a specific object or involve a more confrontational effort.
Two small, colorful cartoon dinosaurs playfully wrestling on a patch of green grass.

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.

Luchamos vs. Peleamos

Learners often confuse 'luchamos' and 'peleamos' because both can imply a 'fight'. Remember that 'luchamos' is for overcoming challenges or striving for a goal, while 'peleamos' is more about direct conflict or arguments.

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