duelo
nounCEFR B2
What does “duelo” mean in English?
grief, mourning — the emotional process of bereavement after loss; also a duel
grief, mourning — the emotional process of bereavement after loss; also a duel (proceso de duelo; superar el duelo)
Example sentences
El proceso de duelo tras la pérdida de un ser querido puede durar meses o incluso años.
The grieving process after losing a loved one can last months or even years.
Los psicólogos diferencian entre el duelo normal y el duelo complicado, que requiere intervención clínica.
Psychologists distinguish between normal grief and complicated grief, which requires clinical intervention.
En el siglo XIX, batirse en duelo era una práctica habitual para resolver disputas de honor.
In the 19th century, duelling was a common practice for resolving disputes of honour.
How to use it
El duelo (noun, masculine) has two distinct meanings at B2: (1) grief/mourning — the psychological process after loss (proceso de duelo; superar el duelo; duelo anticipado), and (2) a duel — a formal fight between two people (batirse en duelo). In contemporary Spanish, sense 1 dominates overwhelmingly. Key collocations for sense 1: proceso de duelo; duelo patológico/complicado; acompañar en el duelo; superar/elaborar el duelo.
Common mistake
Don't confuse duelo (grief/duel) with dolor (pain/sorrow) — duelo specifically describes the mourning process. The correct verb is superar or elaborar el duelo, not *hacer el duelo (French calque). 'To grieve' = estar de duelo / llevar el duelo. Duelo anticipado (anticipatory grief) is a key psychological term at B2.