Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| rigido | /ˈri.d͡ʒi.do/ |
| duro | /ˈdu.ro/ |
Both rigido and duro are used to describe something very bad or intense. For instance, you can use rigido to describe harshness in climate or strictness in rules. If you want to express that something is 'very severe', you can use the phrase molto grave.
Which one should you use?
The choice between these words depends on the context. rigido is more common when referring to physical stiffness, harshness in climate or strictness in rules. In contrast, duro is frequently used for metaphorical 'hard blows' or for physical hardness.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, rigido must agree with the gender and number of the noun it describes. It changes to rigida for feminine singular nouns, rigidi for masculine plural nouns and rigide for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈri.dʒi.do/. It has three syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- While duro means 'severe' or 'hard', it is also the standard word for 'hard-boiled' when describing an egg, as in uovo duro.
- The Italian word duro shares a prehistoric root with the Sanskrit word dūrá, which means 'distant' or 'far'.
- In Italian, the word duro can function as both an adjective for 'hard' and a noun to describe a 'tough guy' or a person who is very resilient.
Examples in context
- Mi sto abituando a poco a poco al clima rigido di qui.I am becoming accustomed to the severe climate here bit by bit.This sentence shows how to use rigido when describing a severe climate.Tatoeba #13261666 by Guybrush88, translation #259687 by CK
- L'epidemia di coronavirus sta causando un duro colpo al settore aereo.The coronavirus outbreak is dealing a severe blow to the airline industry.This sentence demonstrates the use of duro when describing a severe blow.Tatoeba #8611779 by Guybrush88, translation #8611397 by Hybrid
- Questa è una situazione seria che richiede un'attenzione immediata.This is a serious situation that requires immediate attention.
- Hanno preso misure drastiche per risolvere il problema.They took drastic measures to solve the problem.
- Quella è stata una punizione pesante.That was a severe punishment.
- Il dolore alla gamba è forte.The pain in my leg is severe.
- Il rigido inverno ha rovinato i raccolti.The severe winter ruined the crops.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Giulia are discussing their new boss.
- FrancescoCosa pensi del nuovo capo?What do you think of the new boss?
- GiuliaMi sembra un uomo molto rigido.He seems like a very severe man.
- FrancescoSì, non accetta nessun errore.Yes, he doesn't accept any mistakes.
- GiuliaSperiamo che diventi più flessibile.Let's hope he becomes more flexible.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “severe” translations and entries rigido, duro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries duro, rigido, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
