The French verb se battre is the most common way to say "to fight." But just like in English, there are many nuances to the act of fighting, from a playful squabble to a serious conflict. Whether you're describing a heated debate, a physical altercation, or an internal struggle, French offers a rich vocabulary to express the specific type of 'fight' you mean. Learning these different terms will not only expand your vocabulary but also help you understand the subtle contexts in French conversations and media. Let's dive into nine different ways to talk about fighting in French!

1. The standard 'to fight' – se battre

Se battre is the most common and versatile French verb for "to fight". It is a reflexive verb, a crucial detail that affects its conjugation and meaning, covering everything from physical fights to figurative struggles for a cause.

In its most literal sense, se battre refers to a physical fight, brawl, or scuffle. Because it's reflexive, it implies a reciprocal action. For example, Les deux garçons se battent dans la cour means "The two boys are fighting each other in the yard."

More frequently, se battre is used figuratively to mean "to struggle," "to strive," or "to campaign." This is where its versatility shines. You can fight for ideals, against problems, or through personal challenges.

The direction of the figurative fight is usually indicated by a preposition:

• Se battre pour means "to fight for" something. Example: Elle se bat pour les droits des animaux. (She fights for animal rights.)
• Se battre contre means "to fight against" something. Example: Il faut se battre contre l'injustice. (We must fight against injustice.)

It's important not to confuse se battre with its non-reflexive form, battre. The verb battre simply means "to beat" or "to hit" and doesn't imply a reciprocal struggle. You can battre des œufs (beat eggs) or battre un record (break a record), but when two people fight, ils se battent.

💡 * Les enfants se battent souvent pour des jouets.

• Elle se bat contre une maladie grave depuis des années.
• Nous nous battons pour un avenir meilleur.
• Il s'est battu pour obtenir cette promotion.

The 'to argue' or 'to quarrel' – se disputer

When you need to describe a verbal disagreement in French, the most common and versatile verb is se disputer. It directly translates to "to argue" or "to quarrel."

Se disputer refers to a verbal conflict where two or more people are in disagreement. It implies a reciprocal action—it's something people do with each other.

The se part of the verb is a reflexive pronoun, and it's key to the meaning. This pronoun changes depending on who is arguing. For example: Je me dispute (I argue), Nous nous disputons (We argue), Ils se disputent (They argue).

This verb is used for everything from minor bickering between siblings to more serious arguments between partners or colleagues. The subject of the argument is often introduced with prepositions like pour (for), sur (on/about), or à propos de (about).

Crucially, se disputer is for verbal fights only. If the conflict becomes physical, you would use a different verb, such as se battre (to fight).

💡 * Les deux frères se disputent toujours pour la télécommande.

• Nous nous sommes disputés à propos de l'argent.
• Arrêtez de vous disputer pour des bêtises !
• Elle s'est disputée avec son patron hier.

The 'to bicker' or 'to squabble' (often for trivial things) – se chamailler

When you need a word for a minor, noisy argument or squabble—often over something unimportant—the perfect French verb is se chamailler. It translates directly to 'to bicker,' 'to squabble,' or 'to wrangle.'

Se chamailler is a pronominal verb, which means it always uses a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) to show that the action is reciprocal. The people involved are bickering with each other.

This verb carries a lighter connotation than a serious argument (se disputer). It often describes the playful or recurring squabbles between people who are close, like siblings arguing over the remote control or an old couple bickering about directions. The conflict is usually verbal, petty, and quickly forgotten.

As a regular -er verb, the endings are predictable. The key is to remember the reflexive pronoun that corresponds to the subject. For example, in the present tense: nous nous chamaillons (we bicker), ils se chamaillent (they bicker).

You'll often hear se chamailler used to describe children, siblings, or close friends. It's frequently followed by the preposition pour to explain the reason for the trivial dispute, such as se chamailler pour des bêtises (to bicker over silly things).

💡 * Les enfants se chamaillent toujours pour savoir qui aura le dernier gâteau.

• Mon mari et moi, on se chamaille souvent à propos de la télécommande.
• Arrêtez de vous chamailler pour rien !
• Hier, mes sœurs se sont chamaillées toute la journée.

The 'to brawl' or 'to have a punch-up' – se bagarrer

The 'to brawl' or 'to have a punch-up' – se bagarrer

Se bagarrer is a reflexive verb that translates to 'to fight,' 'to scuffle,' or 'to brawl.' It specifically refers to a physical altercation, often one that is messy and involves several people, much like a 'punch-up'.

This verb implies a more serious, physical conflict than a simple verbal argument (se disputer). It's the word you'd use to describe a bar fight, a schoolyard scuffle, or any situation where punches are thrown.

As a reflexive verb, se bagarrer must be conjugated with the correct reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se). The verb stem bagarrer follows the standard conjugation pattern for regular -er verbs.

💡 * Ils se sont bagarrés dans la rue hier soir. (They brawled in the street last night.)

• Arrête de te bagarrer avec ton frère ! (Stop fighting with your brother!)
• Les enfants se bagarrent souvent pour des jouets. (The children often fight over toys.)
• Je ne veux pas me bagarrer, je veux juste parler. (I don't want to fight, I just want to talk.)

The 'to struggle' or 'to battle' against something – lutter contre

The French verb lutter means 'to fight' or 'to struggle.' When paired with the preposition contre ('against'), it forms the expression lutter contre, which directly translates to 'to fight against' or 'to struggle against' something.

This phrase is typically used for significant, often abstract, struggles. You can lutter contre a disease, an injustice, a bad habit, or a societal problem. It implies a serious, prolonged, and determined effort.

Lutter is a regular -er verb, making its conjugation straightforward. The structure is simple: Subject + lutter (conjugated) + contre + Noun. For example, Je lutte contre le stress (I am fighting against stress).

While similar to se battre contre (to fight against), lutter contre often carries a sense of a more persistent and sometimes internal struggle. Se battre can be more literal or physical, though they are often used interchangeably.

Use lutter contre to express a determined struggle against a significant challenge, whether personal, social, or physical. It's a powerful verb for describing resilience and sustained effort.

💡 * Elle lutte contre la maladie avec beaucoup de courage. (She is fighting against the illness with a lot of courage.)

• Nous devons lutter contre les inégalités sociales. (We must fight against social inequalities.)
• Il lutte contre l'envie de fumer chaque jour. (He struggles against the urge to smoke every day.)
• Les pompiers luttent contre l'incendie depuis des heures. (The firefighters have been battling the fire for hours.)

The 'to have a row' or 'to tell someone off' (informal) – s'engueuler

When a simple disagreement turns into a heated argument, the French have a very direct and informal verb: s'engueuler. This is the colloquial equivalent of 'to have a row,' 'to tell each other off,' or 'to have a shouting match.'

It's important to distinguish between its two primary uses. The reflexive form, s'engueuler, is reciprocal and means two or more people are arguing with each other. The non-reflexive form, engueuler quelqu'un, is a one-way action, meaning 'to tell someone off' or 'to yell at someone.'

Be careful with this verb, as it's highly informal and considered somewhat vulgar. It derives from la gueule, a crude word for an animal's mouth, often used informally for a person's mouth. In polite company or professional settings, you should use the more neutral verb se disputer (to argue).

Despite its informal nature, you'll hear s'engueuler frequently in everyday French conversation, films, and books to describe intense, loud arguments. Understanding it is key to grasping the true emotional context of a situation.

💡 * Arrêtez de vous engueuler, les enfants ! (Stop arguing with each other, kids!)

• Je me suis fait engueuler par le prof pour avoir triché. (I got told off by the teacher for cheating.)
• Mes parents s'engueulent tout le temps à propos de l'argent. (My parents are always having rows about money.)
• Il a engueulé son frère parce qu'il avait cassé son téléphone. (He yelled at his brother because he broke his phone.)

The 'to come to blows' or 'to get physical' – en venir aux mains

The French expression en venir aux mains literally translates to 'to come to the hands.' It is a vivid idiom used when a verbal dispute or intense argument escalates into a physical fight.

This phrase specifically highlights the transition from words to physical action. It implies that other means of resolving the conflict have failed, and the situation has degenerated to the point of physical violence. You use it to describe the moment people start to fight.

The verb in this expression is venir (to come), which must be conjugated according to the subject and tense. The rest of the phrase, en ... aux mains, remains fixed. For example, in the past tense, you would say ils en sont venus aux mains (they came to blows).

💡 * La dispute a commencé verbalement, mais ils en sont vite venus aux mains. (The argument started verbally, but they quickly came to blows.)

• Si vous continuez à vous provoquer, vous allez finir par en venir aux mains. (If you keep provoking each other, you're going to end up getting physical.)
• Les deux supporters en sont venus aux mains après le match. (The two fans came to blows after the game.)

The 'to confront' or 'to face' an opponent or problem – affronter

The verb for 'to confront' or 'to face' – affronter

The French verb affronter means 'to confront,' 'to face,' or 'to stand up to.' It implies directly and courageously facing a challenge, an opponent, or a difficulty. It's a verb of action and bravery.

Affronter is used when there is a direct opposition. You don't just encounter a problem; you actively confront it. This can be used for physical confrontations, like facing an enemy, or for abstract challenges, like facing your fears (affronter ses peurs).

While faire face à also means 'to face,' affronter often carries a stronger, more combative tone. Think of it as 'to take on' or 'to brave.' You affronter something that is actively opposing you.

💡 * Le petit village a dû affronter une terrible tempête. (The small village had to face a terrible storm.)

• Il est temps d'affronter la réalité de la situation. (It's time to confront the reality of the situation.)
• L'équipe se prépare à affronter ses adversaires en finale. (The team is preparing to face its opponents in the final.)
• Elle a affronté son patron pour demander une augmentation. (She confronted her boss to ask for a raise.)

1. The Verb for 'to clash' or 'to have a conflict': s'affronter

The French verb s'affronter is a pronominal verb that directly translates to "to clash," "to face off," or "to confront one another." The reflexive pronoun s' (a form of se) is crucial, as it indicates a reciprocal action—the subjects are confronting each other. This verb is used to describe a direct opposition between two or more parties.

A very common use for s'affronter is in the context of sports or any kind of competition. It describes two teams, players, or opponents who are set to compete against each other. For example, you would use it to talk about two football teams playing a match or two chess players facing off in a tournament.

Beyond friendly competition, s'affronter is also used for more serious conflicts. This can range from political candidates clashing during a debate, to armies confronting each other on a battlefield, or even two individuals engaged in a heated argument. The verb highlights the directness and intensity of the disagreement.

Because s'affronter is a pronominal verb based on a regular -er verb, its conjugation is straightforward but requires the correct reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se). For example, in the present tense, it is nous nous affrontons (we face off) and in the passé composé, elles se sont affrontées (they faced off).

💡 * Les deux meilleures équipes vont s'affronter en finale. (The two best teams will face off in the final.)

• Les candidats se sont affrontés hier soir lors du débat télévisé. (The candidates clashed last night during the televised debate.)
• Les deux frères s'affrontent constamment sur des questions politiques. (The two brothers constantly clash over political issues.)
• Les armées se sont affrontées pendant des jours. (The armies confronted each other for days.)

Are there other ways to say 'to fight' in French?

Are there other ways to say “to fight” in French?

This guide has armed you with the most common French verbs for “to fight,” from physical brawls (se bagarrer) to passionate debates (débattre). However, French is rich with nuance, including slang, literary terms, and regional expressions you'll discover over time.

To explore further, you can do an online search for phrases like “argot pour se battre” (slang for to fight) or “synonymes de combattre” (synonyms for to combat) to find more specific vocabulary.

When you encounter a new synonym, always check its context. Is it used for a physical altercation, a verbal dispute, or an internal struggle? Understanding this nuance is crucial for using the word correctly and avoiding misunderstandings.

As you immerse yourself in French media—watching films, reading news, or listening to music—pay close attention to how conflicts and disagreements are described. This is the best way to grasp the subtle differences between these powerful verbs.

For a deeper dive into the various shades of meaning, online dictionaries like Larousse or Le Robert are excellent resources for exploring synonyms and contextual examples for verbs like lutter and se disputer.

I hope this list helps you navigate the complex world of conflict in French. To conclude, let's remember the wise words of Jean de La Fontaine: Mieux vaut plier que rompre. (It is better to bend than to break.) Sometimes, knowing how not to fight is the most important skill of all.