Inklingo
Dictionary

durar

doo-RAHRduˈɾaɾ

“durar” means “to last (time)” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to last (time)A1Verb

referring to the length of an event or process

Learn more →
to hold upB1Verb

to remain durable or in good condition

Learn more →

to last (time), to take (time)Also: to go on

VerbA1regular ar
A long, winding dirt path stretching far into the distance, suggesting a long journey or duration under a bright blue sky.
infinitivedurar
gerunddurando
past Participledurado

📝 In Action

¿Cuánto dura la película?

A1

How long does the movie last?

La reunión duró casi tres horas.

A2

The meeting lasted almost three hours.

Esperamos que el buen tiempo dure hasta el fin de semana.

B1

We hope the good weather lasts until the weekend.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tardar (to take time (often implying delay))
  • extenderse (to extend)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • durar mucho tiempo – to last a long time
  • durar poco – to last a short time

to hold up, to endureAlso: to survive

VerbB1regular ar
A durable, sturdy brown leather boot that looks old but is still completely intact and in excellent, usable condition.

📝 In Action

Este tipo de batería dura más que el modelo anterior.

B1

This type of battery lasts longer than the previous model.

Queremos comprar muebles que duren.

B1

We want to buy furniture that holds up (lasts).

No creo que mi viejo coche dure otro invierno.

B2

I don't think my old car will survive another winter.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • fallar (to fail)
  • romperse (to break)

Common Collocations

  • material duradero – durable material

Indicative

Present

yoduro
túduras
él/ella/usteddura
nosotrosduramos
vosotrosduráis
ellos/ellas/ustedesduran

Imperfect

yoduraba
túdurabas
él/ella/ustedduraba
nosotrosdurábamos
vosotrosdurabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesduraban

Preterite

yoduré
túduraste
él/ella/ustedduró
nosotrosduramos
vosotrosdurasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesduraron

Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

yodure
túdures
él/ella/usteddure
nosotrosduremos
vosotrosduréis
ellos/ellas/ustedesduren

Imperfect Subjunctive

yodurara
túduras
él/ella/usteddurara
nosotrosduráramos
vosotrosdurarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesduraran
View All Tenses & Moods →

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Often confused with tardarverbs

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "durar" in Spanish:

to endureto survive

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: durar

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'durar' to describe the resilience of an object?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
duración(duration, length (noun)) — Noun
duradero(durable, long-lasting (adjective)) — Adjective
durante(during (preposition)) — Preposition
🎵 Rhymes
curarapurar
📚 Etymology

Comes from the Latin verb *dūrare*, which originally meant 'to harden' or 'to make lasting,' and later evolved to mean 'to continue' or 'to persist.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: durareFrench: durer

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'durar' and 'tardar'?

'Durar' focuses on the total time span of an event ('The class lasted one hour'). 'Tardar' focuses on the time taken to complete an action, often implying a delay or slowness ('I took an hour to finish the homework').

Can I use 'durar' to talk about how long a person lives?

While technically possible, it is much more common and natural to use the verb 'vivir' (to live) when talking about a person's lifespan. 'Durar' is usually reserved for things and events.