What it's NOT
discussion does NOT translate to discusión (pelea).
To say "discusión (pelea)" in English, use argument.
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False cognate · False friend
discussion
Does NOT mean discusión (pelea)
It means a conversation / talk
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
discussion means a conversation / talk.
Why it's confused
Spanish "discusión" usually implies a disagreement or verbal fight. English "discussion" is a calm conversation or organized debate. The emotional tone is completely different between the two languages.
How it's pronounced
discussiondis-CÁ-shon
Tap the button to hear the real pronunciation.
Examples of correct use
English
We had a long discussion about the plan.
Spanish
Tuvimos una larga conversación sobre el plan.
English
Let's open the topic for discussion.
Spanish
Abramos el tema a debate.
A trick to remember it
Discussion = a conversation/talk. A fight (Spanish "discusión") = argument.
Mini quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What does "discussion" mean in English?
"Discussion" means "a conversation / talk". It looks a lot like "discusión", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "discusión" in English?
To say "discusión" in English, use "argument". If you use "discussion" instead, you would actually be saying "a conversation / talk".
Do "discussion" and "discusión" mean the same thing?
Spanish "discusión" usually implies a disagreement or verbal fight. English "discussion" is a calm conversation or organized debate. The emotional tone is completely different between the two languages.
Other confusing false friends
More confusing false friends
Library, embarrassed, actually... the full list of words that look the same but mean something different.
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