dificultad
/dee-fee-kool-TAHD/
difficulty
Dificultad can describe the quality of something being hard to understand or complete, like a complex puzzle.
dificultad(noun)
difficulty
?the quality of being hard to do or understand
hardness
?referring to the complexity of a task
📝 In Action
El examen tenía mucha dificultad.
A1The exam was very difficult (had a lot of difficulty).
Leemos libros con diferentes niveles de dificultad.
A2We read books with different levels of difficulty.
💡 Grammar Points
The '-dad' Rule
Most Spanish words that end in '-dad' are feminine. This means you should use 'la' or 'una' with them (la dificultad).
Making it Plural
To talk about more than one, simply add '-es' to the end: 'las dificultades'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong gender
Mistake: "el dificultad"
Correction: la dificultad (words ending in -dad are almost always feminine).
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking about struggles
If you want to say you're having a hard time with something, use the phrase 'tener dificultad para' followed by an action: 'Tengo dificultad para hablar' (I have difficulty speaking).
Dificultad also refers to a specific obstacle or problem that stands in your way.
dificultad(noun)
obstacle
?a specific problem that gets in the way
problem
?a trouble or complication
,hurdle
?a specific challenge to overcome
📝 In Action
Superamos todas las dificultades del viaje.
B1We overcame all the obstacles of the trip.
Surgió una dificultad inesperada en el trabajo.
B1An unexpected problem arose at work.
💡 Grammar Points
Plural focus
When 'dificultad' means 'obstacles,' it is very often used in its plural form: 'dificultades'.
⭐ Usage Tips
A more formal 'problem'
Using 'dificultad' instead of 'problema' can make your Spanish sound slightly more polished and professional.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: dificultad
Question 1 of 2
Which of these is the correct way to say 'the difficulty'?
📚 More Resources
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.