dale más duro
/dale mas duɾo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "go harder" translates to Spanish as dale más duro.
Dale más duro is used to encourage more intensity, particularly in physical contexts such as exercising, dancing or sports. If you want to tell someone to put in more effort in an informal way, you can also use Esfuérzate más. To tell someone to give it their all or go all out, you might use the slang expression Dale con todo. If you want to encourage someone to put more effort or more enthusiasm into something, you can use Ponle más ganas.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Dale más duro is an informal command or encouragement due to the use of the imperative dale. Similarly, Esfuérzate más is used in informal contexts to mean "put in more effort."
How do you pronounce it?
/dale mas duɾo/
Did you know?
- The English word 'dour', meaning stern or gloomy, is a distant cousin of the Spanish word duro.
- In Spanish, adding ganas to a phrase like Ponle más ganas refers to 'desire' or 'will', treating effort as something you physically put into a task.
- In a musical context, such as reggaeton or salsa, someone might shout ¡Dale! as a way to tell the DJ or the dancer to increase the energy or keep the rhythm going.
Examples in context
- Amigo, en el partido de mañana, esfuérzate más y muestra tu mejor juegoFriend, in tomorrow's game, go harder and show your best performance
- ¡Vamos, hermana! Ponle más ganas a tu entrenamiento y lograrás tus metas más rápidoCome on, sis! Put more effort into your training, and you will reach your goals faster
- ¡Dale más duro a la batería!Hit the drums harder!
- Si quieres ganar, dale más duro.If you want to win, go harder.
- Dale más duro al entrenamiento hoy.Go harder with the training today.
Example conversation
Daniel is coaching María during a boxing practice.
- Daniel¡Dale más duro al saco, María!Hit the punching bag harder, María!
- María¡Estoy cansada, Daniel!I am tired, Daniel!
- DanielNo te detengas, dale más duro.Don't stop, go harder.
- MaríaEstá bien, lo intentaré.Okay, I will try.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dale, duro, más, CC BY-SA 4.0.
