Inklingo
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Three brightly colored, complexly shaped puzzle pieces scattered on a flat surface. They clearly do not fit together, symbolizing multiple difficult tasks or problems.

difíciles

dee-FEE-see-less

Adjectivem/fA1
difficult?Describing plural things or situations,hard?Referring to tasks or problems
Also:challenging?Referring to complex situations or people,tricky?Referring to small, complex details

📝 In Action

Los exámenes de historia siempre son muy difíciles.

A1

History exams are always very difficult.

Estas decisiones son difíciles de tomar, pero necesarias.

A2

These decisions are hard to make, but necessary.

Hemos superado momentos difíciles en el pasado.

B1

We have overcome difficult moments in the past.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • complicados (complicated)
  • duros (hard, tough)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • tiempos difíciles – hard times
  • problemas difíciles – difficult problems

💡 Grammar Points

Plural Form

This word is the plural form of the adjective 'difícil'. It is used to describe two or more things or people that are hard or complex.

Agreement is Key

Like all Spanish adjectives, 'difíciles' must match the noun it describes in number. If you are talking about 'one difficult test' (un examen difícil), you drop the '-es'.

The Accent Mark

Notice the accent mark on the 'i' (difíciles). This ensures the stress falls on the correct syllable. Don't leave it out!

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting Plural Agreement

Mistake: "Los temas es difícil."

Correction: Los temas son difíciles. (The topics are difficult.) Remember the adjective and the verb must agree with the plural subject.

Misplacing the Accent

Mistake: "dificiles"

Correction: difíciles. The accent is necessary for correct pronunciation.

⭐ Usage Tips

Using Ser vs. Estar

You almost always use the verb 'ser' (to be) with 'difíciles' because difficulty is usually an inherent characteristic, not a temporary state. (E.g., Las tareas son difíciles—The homework assignments are difficult.)

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: difíciles

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'difíciles'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

difícil(difficult (singular)) - adjective
dificultad(difficulty) - noun
fácil(easy (singular)) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'difícil' gain '-es' in the plural instead of just '-s'?

If a Spanish word ends in a consonant (like 'difícil' ending in 'l'), you must add 'es' to make it plural, not just 's'. This makes the word easier to pronounce: difícil + es = difíciles.

Can I use 'difíciles' to describe people?

Yes, absolutely! It means someone is challenging, demanding, or hard to deal with. For example, 'Mis jefes son muy difíciles' (My bosses are very difficult).