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dificultad

dee-fee-kool-TAHDdifi-kulˈtað

“dificultad” means “difficulty” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

difficulty

Also: hardness
NounfA2
A person looking at a very complex, large puzzle piece while trying to figure out where it fits.

📝 In Action

El examen tenía mucha dificultad.

A1

The exam was very difficult (had a lot of difficulty).

Leemos libros con diferentes niveles de dificultad.

A2

We read books with different levels of difficulty.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • con dificultad – with difficulty
  • sin dificultad – without difficulty
  • nivel de dificultad – level of difficulty

obstacle

Also: problem, hurdle
NounfB1
A large, smooth boulder blocking a narrow walking path in a green field.

📝 In Action

Superamos todas las dificultades del viaje.

B1

We overcame all the obstacles of the trip.

Surgió una dificultad inesperada en el trabajo.

B1

An unexpected problem arose at work.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • obstáculo (obstacle)
  • problema (problem)
  • impedimento (impediment)

Antonyms

  • solución (solution)
  • ayuda (help)

Common Collocations

  • superar una dificultad – to overcome a difficulty
  • enfrentar dificultades – to face difficulties

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "dificultad" in Spanish:

difficulty→hardness→hurdle→obstacle→problem→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: dificultad

Question 1 of 2

Which of these is the correct way to say 'the difficulty'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
difícil(difficult) — Adjective
dificultar(to make difficult) — Verb
dificultoso(troublesome / arduous) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'difficultas'. This was created by combining 'dis-' (which means 'not') and 'facilis' (which means 'easy'). So, at its heart, the word literally means 'not easy'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: difficultyFrench: difficultéItalian: difficoltà

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'dificultad' always a feminine word?

Yes! Every single time you use it, it is feminine. This is a very reliable rule for words ending in '-dad'.

What is the difference between 'problema' and 'dificultad'?

'Problema' is a general word for a problem. 'Dificultad' is often used for something that specifically makes a task harder or requires more effort to solve.