duros
/DOO-rohs/
hard
Duros can mean 'hard,' describing something physically firm or solid.
duros(adjective)
hard
?physically firm or solid
,tough
?mentally or physically demanding
difficult
?referring to tasks or situations
,severe
?referring to punishment or weather
📝 In Action
Los ladrillos son muy duros, no se rompen fácilmente.
A2The bricks are very hard; they don't break easily.
Pasamos por momentos muy duros después de la crisis.
B1We went through some very tough times after the crisis.
Los entrenamientos de este gimnasio son demasiado duros para mí.
A2The workouts at this gym are too difficult/hard for me.
💡 Grammar Points
Making it Plural
This word is the masculine plural form of 'duro' (hard). Remember that adjectives must match the thing they describe in both number (singular/plural) and gender (masculine/feminine).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Hardness and Difficulty
Mistake: "Using 'duros' when you mean 'difíciles' for an abstract concept like a puzzle."
Correction: 'Duros' can mean difficult, but 'difíciles' is often clearer for mental challenges. 'Los problemas son difíciles.'
⭐ Usage Tips
Emotional Use
You can use 'duros' to describe people who are emotionally cold or severe, like saying 'They are very tough/strict on their employees.'
Informally, duros can be used to mean 'bucks' or money.
duros(noun)
bucks
?informal money reference
five-peseta coins
?historical Spanish currency
,cash
?general colloquial use (Spain)
📝 In Action
Me costó cien duros comprar ese libro de segunda mano.
B2It cost me a hundred bucks (or hundred pesetas) to buy that second-hand book.
Si me prestas veinte duros, te los devuelvo mañana.
B2If you lend me twenty bucks, I'll give them back tomorrow.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Plural
When used to mean money or 'bucks,' this word is almost always used in the plural form, 'duros,' even if referring to a single coin historically.
⭐ Usage Tips
Historical Context (Spain)
Before the Euro, the 'duro' was the name for the five-peseta coin. Even now, people in Spain might use it when talking about money in a relaxed, old-fashioned way.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: duros
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'duros' in the sense of 'money'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'duros' sometimes mean money?
Historically, the word 'duro' was the common name for the large, silver five-peseta coin in Spain. Even though Spain now uses the Euro, people still use 'duros' informally to mean 'bucks' or 'cash,' especially when talking about small amounts.
Can I use 'duros' to describe a person?
Yes, but be careful. When describing a person, 'duro' (and 'duros') means they are tough, strict, or emotionally cold, like 'un jefe duro' (a tough boss). It usually implies severity.