huevo duro
/webo duɾo/from spelling rules
The English phrase hard boiled egg is translated into Spanish as huevo duro.
huevo duro refers to an egg that has been cooked in boiling water until both the white and the yolk are solid.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of huevo (egg) and duro (hard).
Which one should you use?
While huevo duro refers to a fully solid hard-boiled egg, the term huevo pasado por agua is used specifically for a soft-boiled egg with a runny yolk.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must change to their plural forms, resulting in huevos duros.
Did you know?
- The word huevo is used in numerous Spanish idioms to describe courage or audacity, meaning that talking about eggs can sometimes be very slangy or vulgar.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, huevos duros are a staple of the 'botana' or appetizer spread, often served with a dollop of mayonnaise and paprika.
- The adjective duro shares a common ancestor with the English word 'durable', both originating from a root meaning 'long' or 'lasting'.
Examples in context
- ¡Me gustaría un huevo cocido, por favor!I would like a hard-boiled egg, please!
- En mi país, solemos llamarlo huevo duro, pero sé que aquí le dicen huevo cocidoIn my country, we usually call it 'huevo duro,' but I know you call it 'huevo cocido' here
- Pásame un huevo duro, por favor.Pass me a hard boiled egg, please.
- En el desayuno comí un huevo duro.I ate a hard boiled egg for breakfast.
- No me gusta el huevo duro.I do not like hard boiled egg.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are preparing a simple lunch in the kitchen.
- Lucía¿Quieres un huevo duro para la ensalada?Do you want a hard boiled egg for the salad?
- MateoSí, por favor, Lucía.Yes, please, Lucía.
- LucíaAquí tienes tu huevo duro.Here is your hard boiled egg.
- MateoMuchas gracias, está muy bueno.Thank you very much, it is very good.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry huevo duro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries duro, huevo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
