fricción
nounCEFR B2
What does “fricción” mean in English?
friction
friction (resistance between surfaces; also figurative tension between parties; fricción social / política)
Example sentences
La fricción entre los dos socios sobre la estrategia de expansión terminó afectando al clima interno de la empresa.
The friction between the two partners over expansion strategy ended up affecting the company's internal climate.
El coeficiente de fricción entre las superficies metálicas aumenta notablemente con la temperatura.
The coefficient of friction between metallic surfaces increases significantly with temperature.
Las fricciones diplomáticas entre ambos países se han agudizado desde el incidente fronterizo de la semana pasada.
The diplomatic friction between the two countries has intensified since last week's border incident.
How to use it
La fricción (noun, feminine) means 'friction' — in physics, the resistance force between surfaces; in general use, tension or conflict between people/groups. At B2, both senses are used but the figurative sense (interpersonal/institutional friction) is particularly important for social and political discourse. Core collocations: fricción entre (tension between); fricción interna; crear/generar fricción; la fricción del debate; reducir la fricción; coeficiente de fricción (physics). The verb is friccionar. Distinguish from tensión (tension — more about emotional or political stress) and conflicto (conflict — more open/explicit).
Common mistake
The figurative sense of fricción (interpersonal/institutional tension) is fully productive at B2, not just the physics definition. Don't confuse with tensión (emotional/political stress — more pervasive) or conflicto (open conflict — more explicit). The plural las fricciones in diplomatic contexts is common.