Difícil: difficult, hard
Pronunciation: dee-FEE-seel (stress the capital letters)
Difícil means “difficult, hard” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: difficult, hard
- How to say it: dee-FEE-seel
- Forms: difícil, difícil, difíciles, difíciles
- Level: Beginner (A1)
What “difícil” means and how to use it
Difícil means “difficult” or “hard.” It has the same form for masculine and feminine.
Forms of “difícil”
| Describes | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | difícil | difíciles |
| Feminine | difícil | difíciles |
Adjectives agree with the noun they describe.
Examples with audio
- El español no es difícil.Spanish is not difficult.
- Es difícil encontrar trabajo.It is hard to find a job.
- Fue una decisión difícil.It was a difficult decision.
Usage tip
Use “difícil de” plus an infinitive: difícil de explicar. Do not use “duro” for abstract difficulty; duro means physically hard or tough.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “difficult, hard” in Spanish?
“difficult, hard” in Spanish is “difícil.” It is pronounced dee-FEE-seel, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “difícil”?
Say dee-FEE-seel. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.
How does “difícil” change for feminine and plural?
The forms are “difícil,” “difícil,” “difíciles,” and “difíciles.”
Practice “difícil” for free
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