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"Riña" is a form of "riña", a noun which is often translated as "argument". "Bronca" is a form of "bronca", a noun which is often translated as "fight". Learn more about the difference between "riña" and "bronca" below.
la riña(
rree
-
nyah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (dispute)
a. argument
Mi novio y yo tuvimos una riña, pero nos reconciliamos al día siguiente.My boyfriend and I had an argument, but we made up the following day.
b. quarrel
Los vecinos gritaban tanto que su riña se escuchaba desde la calle.My neighbors were shouting so loudly that the quarrel could be heard from the street.
2. (struggle)
las riñas
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
a. bickering
Cansado de las riñas constantes, el padre envió a uno de sus hijos a la casa de su abuela.Tired of the constant bickering, the father sent one of his children to his grandmother's house.
la bronca(
brohng
-
kah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. fight
Después de esa bronca que tuvimos, me fui de la casa.After that big fight we had, I left the house.
b. ruckus (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
Un borracho armó una bronca en el bar anoche.A drunken man caused a ruckus at the bar last night.
c. fuss (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Pablo armó una bronca cuando le rayaron el carro nuevo.Pablo made a fuss when someone scratched his new car.
d. racket
Los vecinos hicieron tanta bronca anoche que no pude dormir.The neighbors were making such a racket last night that I couldn't sleep.
e. row (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
La actriz tuvo una bronca con el director, y le cancelaron el contrato.The actress had a row with the director, and they cancelled her contract.
2. (colloquial) (resentment) (South America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
No sé por qué el vecino me tiene tanta bronca, si yo no he hecho nada malo.I don't know why the neighbor has it in for me; I haven't done anything wrong.
Me da mucha bronca cuando me hacen esperar horas para ver al médico.It makes me mad when they make me wait for hours to see a doctor.
3. (colloquial) (reprimand) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. scolding
Me llevé una bronca del jefe por no tener la propuesta lista a tiempo.The boss gave me a scolding for not finalizing the proposal on time.
b. telling-off
Tu mamá te dará una buena bronca si te oye hablar así.You'll get a good telling-off if your mom hears you talking like that.
c. ticking-off (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Le echó una bronca al perro por destrozar un almohadón.He gave his dog a ticking-off for tearing up a pillow.
4. (colloquial) (difficulty) (Mexico)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Mexico
a. problem
Va a ser una bronca llegar al Zócalo a esta hora.Getting to the Zocalo at this time of day is going to be a problem.
