dura
/DOO-rah/
hard
The rock is very dura (hard).
dura(Adjective)
hard
?physical texture or material
,tough
?difficult or resilient
stiff
?unbending
,harsh
?figurative, referring to conditions or life
📝 In Action
La mesa de madera es muy dura.
A1The wooden table is very hard.
Tuvo una vida dura después de la guerra.
A2She had a tough life after the war.
La respuesta de la jefa fue muy dura.
B1The boss's response was very harsh.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Ending
Remember that 'dura' is the feminine form. You must use 'dura' when describing a female person or a feminine Spanish noun (like 'la vida' or 'la mesa'). Use 'duro' for masculine nouns.
⭐ Usage Tips
More Than Just Physical
While it means 'hard' physically, it is very common to use 'dura' to describe something emotionally difficult or challenging, like 'una prueba dura' (a tough test).
This ancient tree dura (lasts) for centuries.
dura(Verb)
(it) lasts
?duration of time
,(she/he/it) endures
?to continue existing
(it) takes
?referring to the time required
📝 In Action
La reunión siempre dura demasiado.
A2The meeting always lasts too long.
¿Cuánto dura el viaje en tren?
A2How long does the train trip take?
Espero que nuestra amistad dure muchos años.
B1I hope our friendship lasts many years.
💡 Grammar Points
Use with Time Expressions
This form ('dura') is almost always used when talking about time. The pattern is usually: 'Thing' + dura + 'amount of time' (El vuelo dura 4 horas).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Durar' with 'Tener'
Mistake: "La clase tiene dos horas. (The class has two hours.)"
Correction: La clase dura dos horas. (The class lasts two hours.) Use 'durar' to express duration, not 'tener'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: dura
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'dura' as a verb meaning 'to last'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'dura' related to the word 'dinero' (money)?
Historically, yes, but regionally and informally. In Spain, 'una dura' used to be a nickname for the five-peseta coin. However, in modern Spanish, you should use 'dura' only as an adjective (hard/tough) or the conjugation of the verb 'durar' (it lasts).