Que significa Discutir?

Question

What does Discutir mean?

Answer 1

Discutir is interesting because its meaning changes if it is used transitively or intransitively.

Used transitively, it means to discuss. That is to say, if it has a direct object then it means discuss.

Discuto el tema con Mario. I discuss the matter with Mario.

Used intransitively, it means to argue. That is to say, if it does not have a direct object, it means to argue.

Discuto con Mario cada día. I argue with Mario everyday.

¡Gracias! this helped - anishajag, Jan 13, 2010

Good answer! - JoyceM, Sep 1, 2012

Answer 2

This last post (003487d6) really helped me with a point I never understood before. Thanks!

Now here is a sentence I just found in an article: "Rainieri discute que el turismo sea una industria frágil." In this article from Think Spanish, July 2010, p. 10, "dicute que el turismo sea" is translated as "questions that tourism is..." So, assuming that "turismo" is a direct object (I'm not good with grammar), I guess that here "discute" is used transitively, and that therefore it means "questions" or "disputes." So, when used transitively "discutir" means, depending on context, either "discuss," "dispute," or "question."

Answer 3

To Ron Sailon,

In your example I think the word discute means to argue or allege rather than question.