difícil
/d͡ʒiˈfi.siw/
difícil is the Portuguese word for difficult.
difícil is the most common and universal translation for difficult in Portuguese. It is used to describe things that are hard or not easy.
Meaning: hard, not easy (adj)
Which one should you use?
While difícil is the standard term, other words offer specific nuances: complicado suggests something is intricate or complex. árduo emphasizes that an endeavor is laborious or demanding. And penoso highlights the emotional or psychological burden of a difficult situation.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The colloquial term osso is often used in Brazil. Similarly, the slang term cabuloso/a is used in Brazil to describe something extremely difficult or complex.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective is irregular in its plural form. To make it plural, change it to difíceis.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable. The IPA is /dʒiˈfi.siw/.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, if you want to say something is extremely difficult, you might call it osso, which literally translates to 'bone'.
- The word difícil is a learned borrowing from the Latin word difficilis.
- In some Portuguese dialects, saying something is difícil can be a subtle way of saying it is unlikely to happen, rather than just hard to do.
Examples in context
- É difícil, não é?It's difficult, isn't it?This sentence uses difícil to confirm a difficulty.Tatoeba #3490253 by piterkeo, translation #2545254 by CK
- O árabe é difícil?Is Arabic difficult?This sentence uses difícil to ask about the difficulty of a language.Tatoeba #6562146 by bill, translation #5911159 by OsoHombre
- A dieta é difícil.The diet is difficult.This sentence uses difícil to describe the difficulty of a diet.Tatoeba #11517477 by carlosalberto, translation #11517460 by carlosalberto
- O exame foi muito difícil.The exam was very difficult.
- A estratégia de negócios apresentada era complicada.The business strategy presented was complicated.
- O trabalho era árduo, mas recompensador.The work was arduous but rewarding.
- A situação foi penosa para todos os envolvidos.The situation was distressing for all involved.
- A prova de matemática foi uma dureza!The math test was tough!
- Aquele problema é cabeludo, não é fácil de resolver.That problem is complicated, not easy to solve.
- Arrumar emprego hoje em dia está osso.Finding a job nowadays is tough.
- 532 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Beatriz are discussing a new project at work.
- LucasBeatriz, você acha este projeto difícil?Beatriz, do you think this project is difficult?
- BeatrizSim, Lucas, é bastante difícil.Yes, Lucas, it is quite difficult.
- LucasEu também sinto que é difícil.I also feel that it is difficult.
- BeatrizMas nós vamos conseguir.But we will manage.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “difficult” translations and entries difícil, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries difícil, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
