dificultar

dee-fee-kool-tardifi-kulˈtaɾ

“dificultar” means “to make difficult” in Spanish (to create obstacles for an action or process).

to make difficult, to hinder

Also: to complicate, to hamper

VerbB1regular ar

A small figure trying to walk through a path filled with large, heavy boulders and thick thorny bushes.

gerunddificultando

past Participledificultado

infinitivedificultar

📝 In Action

La lluvia fuerte puede dificultar el tráfico esta tarde.

The heavy rain can make traffic difficult this afternoon.

La falta de internet dificultó mi trabajo durante todo el día.

The lack of internet hindered my work throughout the day.

Las nuevas leyes dificultan la apertura de pequeñas empresas.

The new laws make it difficult to open small businesses.

Word Connections

Synonyms

entorpecer (to slow down / to hinder)
obstaculizar (to block / to obstruct)
complicar (to complicate)

Antonyms

facilitar (to make easy / to facilitate)
ayudar (to help)

Common Collocations

dificultar el acceso – to make access difficult
dificultar el proceso – to hinder the process
dificultar la visibilidad – to make visibility poor

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yodificultara

túdificultaras

él/ella/usteddificultara

nosotrosdificultáramos

vosotrosdificultarais

ellos/ellas/ustedesdificultaran

Present Subjunctive

yodificulte

túdificultes

él/ella/usteddificulte

nosotrosdificultemos

vosotrosdificultéis

ellos/ellas/ustedesdificulten

Indicative

Preterite

yodificulté

túdificultaste

él/ella/usteddificultó

nosotrosdificultamos

vosotrosdificultasteis

ellos/ellas/ustedesdificultaron

Imperfect

yodificultaba

túdificultabas

él/ella/usteddificultaba

nosotrosdificultábamos

vosotrosdificultabais

ellos/ellas/ustedesdificultaban

Present

yodificulto

túdificultas

él/ella/usteddificulta

nosotrosdificultamos

vosotrosdificultáis

ellos/ellas/ustedesdificultan

View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "dificultar" in Spanish:

to complicate→to hamper→to hinder→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: dificultar

Question 1 of 3

Which of these is the most natural way to say 'The noise makes communication difficult'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

difícil(difficult) — Adjective

dificultad(difficulty) — Noun

difícilmente(with difficulty / unlikely) — Adverb

🎵 Rhymes▼

ayudar facilitar lugar

📚 Etymology▼

From the Spanish noun 'dificultad,' which comes from the Latin 'difficultas,' meaning 'difficulty' or 'hardship.'

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: dificultarFrench: difficulté (related noun)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'dificultar' an irregular verb?

No, it is a completely regular -ar verb. It follows the same patterns as 'hablar' or 'cantar' in all tenses.

Can I use 'dificultar' to describe a person?

Generally, no. You use 'dificultar' for things or situations that hinder a process. To say a person is being difficult, you would say 'él/ella es difícil' or 'está siendo difícil'.

What is the difference between 'dificultar' and 'complicar'?

They are very close. 'Dificultar' implies an obstacle that slows you down or stops you. 'Complicar' implies adding extra layers of confusion or complexity to a situation.