Inklingo

How to Say "toughness" in Spanish

English → Spanish

dureza

doo-REH-sahduˈɾesa

nounB1general
Use 'dureza' when referring to a lack of leniency, difficult circumstances, or the resilience of a person or thing against hardship.
A person with a stern, angry facial expression and a pointed finger.

Examples

La dureza de la vida en el campo lo hizo fuerte.

The toughness of life in the countryside made him strong.

Me sorprendió la dureza de sus palabras.

I was surprised by the harshness of her words.

Los soldados soportaron la dureza del invierno.

The soldiers endured the severity of the winter.

La dureza de la vida en la montaña es increíble.

The hardship of mountain life is incredible.

Abstract Meanings

Just like in English, physical words are often used to describe feelings. 'Dureza' works exactly like 'toughness' or 'hardness' in a figurative way.

Avoid 'Severidad' for everything

Mistake: “La severidad del clima.”

Correction: While correct, 'la dureza del clima' sounds more natural when emphasizing how hard it is to survive it.

caña

nounB2informal
Use 'caña' informally to describe a difficult or challenging situation, or to express that something is excellent or impressive.

Examples

¡Qué caña tuvimos que pasar para terminar el proyecto!

What toughness (difficulty) we had to go through to finish the project!

muñeca

nounB2informal
Use 'muñeca', particularly in the phrase 'tener muñeca', to describe having skill, nerve, or the ability to handle a tricky situation with finesse.

Examples

Necesitas tener mucha muñeca para negociar con él.

You need to have a lot of toughness (skill/nerve) to negotiate with him.

Confusing 'dureza' with informal uses of 'caña' and 'muñeca'

Learners often mistakenly use 'dureza' when the context calls for the informal slang term 'caña' (for something being cool or a hard time) or 'muñeca' (for skill/guts). Remember that 'dureza' is the most direct translation for hardship or resilience, while the others are context-specific and informal.

Related Translations

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