altercado

altercation, dispute

noun ahl-tehr-KAH-doh Rare

Usage Note

Altercado refers to a heated verbal dispute or quarrel, usually brief and in public. It is stronger than a discusión but typically does not involve physical violence. Common in police reports and journalistic writing: hubo un altercado entre los dos grupos.

Examples

"Los vecinos tuvieron un altercado en la escalera."

Natural Translation

The neighbors had an altercation on the staircase.

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