fuerte
/FWER-teh/
strong
As an adjective, fuerte means strong, referring to physical power.
📝 In Action
Mi hermano es muy fuerte, levanta pesas todos los días.
A1My brother is very strong, he lifts weights every day.
Necesitamos una cuerda más fuerte para escalar.
A2We need a stronger rope to climb.
💡 Grammar Points
Same for Masculine & Feminine
Good news! 'Fuerte' doesn't change for masculine or feminine things. You say 'el hombre fuerte' (the strong man) and 'la mujer fuerte' (the strong woman). It only changes for plural: 'los hombres fuertes'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Ser' vs. 'Estar' Fuerte
Mistake: "Using 'ser' when you mean someone is looking physically fit right now."
Correction: Use 'ser fuerte' for someone's general character or nature (He is a strong person). Use 'estar fuerte' to say someone is physically fit or looks muscular (Wow, you're looking strong!).
When describing senses, fuerte means intense, like a strong flavor or smell.
fuerte(Adjective)
strong
?taste, smell, flavor
,loud
?sound, music, voice
,heavy
?rain, wind
intense
?pain, feeling
,bright
?colors
📝 In Action
Este queso tiene un sabor muy fuerte.
A2This cheese has a very strong flavor.
La música está demasiado fuerte, no puedo oírte.
A2The music is too loud, I can't hear you.
Tengo un dolor de cabeza muy fuerte.
B1I have a very strong headache.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Your Senses
Think of 'fuerte' as the word for 'intense' when talking about what you see, hear, taste, or smell. It's a super useful way to describe things that have a big impact on your senses.
Fuerte can describe emotional or mental strength and resilience.
fuerte(Adjective)
strong
?emotionally, mentally
brave
?courageous
,resilient
?able to withstand difficulties
,convincing
?a strong argument
📝 In Action
Tienes que ser fuerte para superar esta situación.
B1You have to be strong to get through this situation.
Ella tiene un carácter muy fuerte.
B1She has a very strong character.
Es una razón muy fuerte para cambiar de opinión.
B2It's a very strong reason to change one's mind.
⭐ Usage Tips
Character vs. Condition
Remember to use 'ser fuerte' to describe someone's personality (a permanent trait), like 'Mi abuela es una mujer muy fuerte'. Use 'estar' for temporary emotional states, though it's less common with 'fuerte'.
Used as an adverb, fuerte means 'hard' or 'tightly,' such as hugging someone fuerte.
📝 In Action
¡Habla más fuerte, que no te oigo!
A2Speak louder, I can't hear you!
El niño abrazó fuerte a su mamá.
B1The child hugged his mom tightly.
Llovió muy fuerte toda la noche.
B1It rained very hard all night.
💡 Grammar Points
The Adjective-Adverb Shortcut
In Spanish, some words that look like adjectives can describe how an action is done. 'Fuerte' is a great example. Instead of always saying the longer 'fuertemente', people often just say 'fuerte'. It doesn't change its ending.
As a noun, el fuerte refers to a personal specialty or 'strong suit.'
📝 In Action
La organización no es mi fuerte, soy más creativo.
B2Organization isn't my strong suit, I'm more creative.
El fuerte de nuestro restaurante es la comida tradicional.
B2The strength of our restaurant is the traditional food.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About Your Talents
This is a fantastic, natural-sounding phrase to talk about your skills. Use 'Mi fuerte es...' (My strong suit is...) to say what you're good at, and 'No es mi fuerte' for what you're not so good at.
El fuerte can also mean a military fort or fortress.
📝 In Action
El viejo fuerte protegía la entrada a la bahía.
B2The old fort protected the entrance to the bay.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: fuerte
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'fuerte' to mean 'loud'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'ser fuerte' and 'estar fuerte'?
Great question! Use 'ser fuerte' to talk about someone's character or permanent quality (e.g., 'Ella es fuerte' means 'She is a strong person'). Use 'estar fuerte' to talk about a physical state, like being fit or muscular (e.g., '¡Has ido al gimnasio! ¡Estás muy fuerte!' means 'You've been to the gym! You're looking really strong!').
Why do people say 'habla fuerte' instead of 'habla fuertemente'?
In everyday Spanish, it's very common to use some adjectives like adverbs without adding the '-mente' ending. 'Fuerte' is one of them. While 'fuertemente' is grammatically correct, it sounds a bit more formal or literary. For daily conversation, 'habla fuerte' (speak loudly) or 'golpea fuerte' (hit hard) is perfectly normal and sounds more natural.
Does 'fuerte' ever change to 'fuerta' for feminine nouns?
No, it doesn't. 'Fuerte' is one of those helpful adjectives that stays the same for both masculine and feminine things. You say 'un coche fuerte' (a strong car) and 'una mesa fuerte' (a strong table). It only changes for the plural by adding an 's': 'coches fuertes', 'mesas fuertes'.