trabajo duro / arduo
/tɾaˈbaxo ˈduɾo ˈaɾdwo/word by wordmasculine
The English phrase "hard work" can be translated into Spanish as trabajo duro / arduo.
Both terms refer to something requiring a lot of effort to do. While trabajo duro refers to the labor itself, you may also use the word esfuerzo if you want to emphasize the exertion or the struggle involved in the work.
Meaning: something requiring lots of effort to do (noun)
Which one should you use?
trabajo duro is more common in everyday spoken Spanish, whereas trabajo arduo sounds more formal or literary.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because trabajo is a masculine noun, the adjective must also be in the masculine form. For example, trabajo ardua is grammatically incorrect. To express the plural "hard works" or "difficult tasks", both the noun and the adjective must be pluralized as trabajos duros.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɾaˈbaxo ˈduɾo ˈaɾdwo/
Did you know?
- The English word 'dour' is a distant relative of the Spanish duro.
- In Spanish, trabajo can be used as a noun to describe a 'hassle' or a 'problem', not just a professional job.
- If you are describing a task that is not just physically hard but also steep or difficult to climb, the adjective arduo is the perfect choice.
Examples in context
- El éxito requiere trabajo duro y dedicación constante.Success requires hard work and constant dedication.
- Tu esfuerzo encomiable es un ejemplo para todos.Your commendable effort is an example for everyone.
- Me machaqué toda la semana para terminar el proyecto a tiempo.I worked hard all week to finish the project on time.
- Te has currado este informe, está muy completo.You've worked hard on this report, it's very comprehensive.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hard work” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (trabajo, duro, arduo) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries arduo, duro, trabajo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
