adjective

difícil

difficult

Algo que requiere mucho esfuerzo o es complicado de hacer o entender.

Definition & meaning

Difficult, hard, or challenging. It describes something that requires considerable effort or skill, or a person or situation that is hard to deal with.

  • un examen difícil — a difficult exam
  • una persona difícil — a difficult person
  • Es difícil de creer. — It is hard to believe.

Grammar & Word origin

Difícil is an adjective with the same singular form for masculine and feminine nouns. Its plural is difíciles .

It comes from Latin difficilis, meaning “hard to do,” formed from elements meaning “not easily” and “to do.”

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • complicado — complicated; emphasizes complexity rather than difficulty alone.
  • arduo — arduous; emphasizes the effort involved.
  • complicado de tratar — difficult to deal with, especially when describing a person.

Antonyms:

  • fácil — easy; the most direct opposite.
  • sencillo — simple; emphasizes a lack of complexity.

Common phrases & collocations

  • difícil de entender — hard to understand
  • situación difícil — difficult situation
  • tomar una decisión difícil — to make a difficult decision

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Examples

Este juego es realmente muy difícil.adjective

This game is really very difficult.

La tarea de matemáticas era muy difícil.adjective

The math homework was very difficult.

El examen fue bastante difícil.adjective

The exam was quite difficult.

El examen estuvo difícil.adjective

The exam was difficult.

La tarea está difícil.adjective

The homework is difficult.

Este ejercicio es difícil para mí.adjective

This exercise is difficult for me.

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