pelearse con
verbCEFR B1
What does “pelearse con” mean in English?
to argue with / to fall out with
to argue with / to fall out with (pelearse con + person; por + reason; reflexive; primarily verbal conflict at B1; inherently reciprocal with plural subject; more sustained than enfadarse)
Example sentences
Se peleó con su mejor amigo porque este le ocultó que estaba buscando trabajo en otra ciudad, y ella se enteró por terceros.
She fell out with her best friend because he had kept from her that he was looking for a job in another city, and she found out through third parties.
Se pelean mucho últimamente — casi cada semana hay una discusión por algo, y los dos están agotados de no poder hablar sin acabar mal.
They argue a lot lately — almost every week there is a row about something, and they are both exhausted from not being able to talk without ending badly.
¿Por qué os habéis peleado esta vez? Porque cada semana es una cosa distinta y yo ya no sé cómo ayudaros.
Why have you argued this time? Because every week it is a different thing and I no longer know how to help you.
How to use it
Pelearse con means 'to have an argument / to fall out with someone' — in everyday relationship contexts it primarily describes verbal conflict, not physical fighting (for physical fighting, pegarse is more specific). The reflexive marker se is obligatory; con marks the person of conflict: pelearse con alguien. With a plural subject the reading is inherently reciprocal: se pelearon = they had a fight / they fell out with each other. The reason is introduced by por: pelearse por algo. Pelearse implies a sharper, more prolonged conflict than enfadarse — it suggests an ongoing rupture rather than momentary anger.
Common mistake
Pelearse in relationship contexts primarily means 'to argue / to fall out' — physical fighting is pelearse a golpes or pegarse. The con preposition is obligatory for the target person. Pelearse implies more sustained conflict than enfadarse (momentary anger).