Spanish Conversation · Level 1
86 words
Spanish word
guerra
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈgera/
Meaning
- feminine nounwar
Example
¿Cuándo empezó la guerra?
When did the war start?
More examples
La guerra dejó ciudades destruidas.
The war left cities destroyed.
Core concept
Prolonged armed conflict between states or organized groups causing widespread destruction.
Common phrases
declarar la guerra
declare war
guerra civil
civil war
guerra mundial
world war
Similar words
guerra civil: Large-scale armed conflict within one country between rival factions or regions.
conflicto: Conflict arising from differing interests or opinions that produces disputes, usually nonviolent.
confrontación: Face-to-face clash where opposing parties confront each other, often abrupt.
Definition in Spanish
Conflicto armado prolongado entre estados, naciones o grupos organizados que provoca violencia, daños y pérdidas humanas y materiales.
Word origin
Borrowed into Spanish from Old French guerre, itself from Old High German werra meaning confusion or disorder.
Usage tips
- In everyday speech guerra sounds heavy and often denotes real fighting, so speakers frequently use conflicto or enfrentamiento to describe less violent or political disputes.
Other meanings
- warfarenoun
- conflictnoun
Related words
- guerrerowarriornoun
- guerrillaguerrillanoun
- guerrilleroguerrilla fighternoun