Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| batalla | /baˈtaʝa/ | feminine |
| lucha | /ˈlut͡ʃa/ | feminine |
Both words refer to a fight, encounter or combat, but they are used in different contexts. Batalla is the standard term for a battle, while lucha refers to a struggle or a fight.
Which one should you use?
Batalla is typically used for large-scale military engagements or historical battles. In contrast, lucha is more common for general struggles, wrestling or social and political fights. For example, lucha is the preferred term for abstract or metaphorical struggles, such as a struggle against poverty.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The related verb batallar is often used reflexively or with a preposition to indicate struggling against a specific difficulty or obstacle. To express the transitive action of assailing in battle or fighting against something, you can use batallar contra.
How do you pronounce it?
/baˈtaʝa/
Did you know?
- The word lucha is a distant cousin to the English word 'reluctant'. Both come from the same Latin root, 'luctari', which means to struggle or wrestle.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the phrase lucha libre refers to a highly stylized and acrobatic form of professional wrestling.
- The term lucha is frequently used in political slogans, such as la lucha sigue, to mean 'the struggle continues'.
Examples in context
- Tom murió en batalla.Tom died in battle.This sentence is useful for describing someone dying in battle using batalla.Tatoeba #2909263 by hayastan, translation #2647966 by CK
- La batalla fue perdida.The battle was lost.This sentence is useful for describing a lost battle using batalla.Tatoeba #10794246 by Curro, translation #13591309 by araneo
- Fue herido en la batalla.He was wounded in the battle.This sentence is useful for describing someone being wounded in a battle using batalla.Tatoeba #2402803 by wallebot, translation #291097 by CK
- La batalla de WaterlooThe Battle of Waterloo
- Un combate cuerpo a cuerpoHand-to-hand combat
- La lucha por la libertadThe battle for freedom
- Nos contó una batallita de su juventudHe told us a little story about his youth
- 55 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and María are discussing a historical movie.
- MateoLa batalla final fue muy emocionante.The final battle was very exciting.
- MaríaSí, pero duró demasiado tiempo.Yes, but it lasted too long.
- MateoMe gustó cómo ganaron la batalla.I liked how they won the battle.
- MaríaFue una escena muy impresionante, Mateo.It was a very impressive scene, Mateo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “battle” translations and entries batalla, lucha, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries batalla, lucha, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
