nounnounadjectiveadverb

le dur

hard

Qui n'est pas mou et qui résiste quand on appuie dessus.

Word: dur

Meaning in English:
The French adjective dur means hard, tough, or difficult. It can refer to physical hardness or the figurative difficulty of a situation.

Explanation and Usage

Literal meaning (physical):
Dur describes something that is hard or solid and not easy to break, bend, or damage.
- Example: Ce bois est très dur. → This wood is very hard.
Figurative meaning (abstract):
It can also describe something that is difficult, unpleasant, or demanding.
- Example: C’est un travail dur. → It is a hard (difficult) job.
- Il a une vie dure. → He has a tough life.
Character or personality:
When used for a person, it can imply being strict, severe, or emotionally tough.
- Example: Un professeur dur. → A strict teacher.
- Also adjective form can mean "resilient".

Parts

Masculine singular: dur
Feminine singular: dure
Masculine plural: durs
Feminine plural: dures

The feminine form is often used when describing feminine nouns (e.g., une épreuve dure - a tough challenge).

Synonyms

Physical: solide, rigide, ferme (solid, rigid, firm)
Figurative: difficile, ardu, pénible (difficult, arduous, painful)
Personality (strict): sévère, strict, inflexible (strict, inflexible)

Antonyms

Physical hardness: mou, doux, tendre (soft, gentle, tender)
Difficulty: facile, simple (easy, simple)
Personality: doux (gentle), indulgent (tolerant)

Summary:
Dur is a versatile French adjective primarily meaning "hard" in a physical sense but also frequently used figuratively to indicate difficulty or toughness in various contexts, including personality traits.