Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Fight in Spanish: Pelea, Pelear & Luchar
Pelea · noun · peh-LEH-ah
The Spanish noun pelea refers to a fight or quarrel—physical or verbal. The verb pelear means "to fight" in a direct sense, while luchar emphasizes struggling or battling, often for a cause.
peh-LEH-ah
La pelea entre los vecinos duró toda la noche.
The fight between the neighbors lasted all night.
Fight in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for fight, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| pelea | fight | peh-LEH-ah | Default, widely understood |
| pelear | fight | verb — to fight (general) | |
| luchar | fight | verb — to fight/struggle (broader) |
How Native Speakers Use Pelea
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Describing a verbal argument
Mis hermanos siempre pelean por el control remoto.
My siblings always fight over the remote control.
Pelear por is the standard way to say fighting over or about something.
Struggling for a goal
Ella lucha cada día por los derechos de su comunidad.
She fights every day for the rights of her community.
Luchar por conveys fighting for a cause or ideal, not a physical confrontation.
Recounting a physical altercation
Hubo una pelea afuera del estadio después del partido.
There was a fight outside the stadium after the game.
Pelea as a noun refers to the event of a fight, whether physical or verbal.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Pelea
Using luchar for petty arguments
Incorrect: Los niños lucharon por un juguete.
Correct: Los niños pelearon por un juguete.
Luchar implies a noble struggle or intense battle. For everyday squabbles, pelear is the natural choice.
Wrong noun form
Incorrect: Tuvimos un lucho terrible.
Correct: Tuvimos una pelea terrible.
While luchar is a valid verb, lucho is only its first-person conjugation, not a noun — the noun from luchar is lucha (feminine), but pelea is more common for interpersonal fights.
Lock in Fight Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Pelea used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using pelea in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear La pelea entre los vecinos duró toda la noche. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Fight in Spanish
- When should I use pelear vs. luchar?
- Use pelear for everyday fights, arguments, and physical confrontations. Use luchar when referring to broader struggles, battles, or fighting for principles. A couple pelean about housework, but an activist lucha por la justicia.
- What is the noun form of luchar?
- The noun is lucha, a feminine word. It can mean fight, struggle, or wrestling. Lucha libre, for example, is the famous Mexican style of professional wrestling.
- How do I say 'Don't fight' to children?
- You would say no peleen (ustedes) or no se peleen if addressing multiple children. For one child informally, use no pelees. The reflexive pelearse emphasizes a mutual quarrel.