difícil
“difícil” means “difficult” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
difficult, hard
Also: tricky, tough
📝 In Action
Este problema de matemáticas es muy difícil.
A1This math problem is very difficult.
Aprender un idioma nuevo puede ser difícil al principio.
A2Learning a new language can be hard at the beginning.
Fue una decisión difícil de tomar.
B1It was a difficult decision to make.
difficult
Also: demanding, fussy
📝 In Action
Mi jefe es una persona muy difícil; nunca está contento con nuestro trabajo.
B1My boss is a very difficult person; he's never happy with our work.
No seas tan difícil y come la verdura.
A2Don't be so difficult and eat your vegetables.
Tiene un carácter un poco difícil, pero es un buen amigo.
B2He has a bit of a difficult personality, but he's a good friend.
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Quick Quiz: difícil
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
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🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'difficilis', which is a combination of 'dis-' (meaning 'not' or 'apart') and 'facilis' (meaning 'easy'). So, it literally means 'not easy'.
First recorded: Around the 13th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'difícil' and 'duro'?
Great question! 'Difícil' is about mental effort or complexity, like a 'problema difícil' (difficult problem). 'Duro' often means physically hard, like a rock, or can mean tough/harsh, like 'un trabajo duro' (hard work/labor) or 'un invierno duro' (a harsh winter). While they can sometimes overlap, think of 'difícil' for complexity and 'duro' for physical effort or harshness.
Why does the 'z' change to 'c' in the plural ('difíciles')?
This is a standard spelling rule in Spanish. To keep the right sound, a 'z' is never followed by an 'e' or 'i'. So, when we need to add '-es' to make it plural, the 'z' has to change to a 'c'. You'll see this with other words too, like 'lápiz' (pencil) which becomes 'lápices'.