What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the past participle prohibido (prohibited) and the infinitive pelear (to fight).
Which one should you use?
While prohibido pelear is used as a formal notice or rule, no peleen is a direct command used when speaking to a group of people.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more polite or formal ways to prevent conflict, you can use Evitemos la pelea, por favor (Let's avoid the fight, please) or Por favor, manténganse en calma y eviten las confrontaciones (Please stay calm and avoid confrontations). In informal settings, you might use No se peleen to say "no fighting" in a friendly tone or ¡No te pelees con él/ella! to tell someone directly, "Don't fight with him/her!"
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, No os peleéis is an informal way to say "don't fight" when addressing a group.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you use a noun instead of a verb, the gender of the adjective prohibido must change to match the noun, such as in prohibida la pelea (the fight is prohibited).
How do you pronounce it?
/pɾoibido peleaɾ/
Did you know?
- The verb pelear actually shares a hidden history with the word for 'hair', stemming from the idea of two people grabbing each other by the hair during a brawl.
- There is a vivid Spanish idiom, agarrarse de las greñas, which literally means 'to grab each other by the hair' and is used to describe a physical fight.
Examples in context
- ¡Chicos, no se peleen! Es mejor hablar y resolver sus diferencias de manera civilizada.Guys, don't fight! It's better to talk and resolve your differences in a civilized manner.
- Está prohibido pelear en el parque.Fighting is prohibited in the park.
- ¡Niños, está prohibido pelear!Children, no fighting!
- En este edificio está prohibido pelear.Fighting is prohibited in this building.
Example conversation
A teacher stops two students from arguing in a hallway.
- Alejandro¡Escuchen, está prohibido pelear aquí!Listen, fighting is prohibited here!
- SofíaLo siento, Alejandro, no volverá a pasar.I am sorry, Alejandro, it won't happen again.
- AlejandroSofía, tú también debes mantener la calma.Sofía, you must also stay calm.
- SofíaEstá bien, lo entendemos.Okay, we understand.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pelear, CC BY-SA 4.0.
