pelear
/peleˈaɾ/
To catch a fade in Spanish is to say pelear.
The phrase is used to describe engaging in a physical fight with someone.
How does it change in a sentence?
The gerund form peleando is used to describe the action of fighting currently in progress. To indicate a completed fight in the past, you can use the third-person singular preterite form peleó to mean he or she fought.
How do you pronounce it?
/peleˈaɾ/
Did you know?
- The verb pelear is etymologically linked to the word for 'hair', pelo, suggesting that fighting was historically viewed as a messy, close-quarters struggle involving grabbing hair.
- In Spanish, the word pleito is used for both a physical fight and a formal legal lawsuit.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, you might hear the expression agarrarse de las greñas to describe a fight, which literally translates to 'grabbing each other's matted locks'.
Examples in context
- Él quiere pelear conmigo en la calle.He wants to fight with me in the street.
- Ellos empezaron a pelear en el club.They started fighting in the club.
Example conversation
Javier and María are discussing a conflict at a party.
- Javier¿Vas a pelear con ese tipo?Are you going to fight with that guy?
- MaríaNo, Javier, no quiero problemas.No, Javier, I don't want trouble.
- JavierÉl te está provocando.He is provoking you.
- MaríaQue lo haga, no me importa.Let him, I don't care.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pelear, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pelear, CC BY-SA 4.0.
