trabajas duro
/tɾabaxas duɾo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "you work hard" is translated into Spanish as trabajas duro.
This phrase is a statement used to tell someone that they put a lot of effort into their job or tasks. If you want to express the idea of "to put a lot of effort" or "to give it your all" in an informal way, you can also use the expression Echarle muchas ganas.
Which one should you use?
While trabajas duro emphasizes the intensity or difficulty of the effort, the phrase trabajas mucho is used to emphasize the quantity of time or the volume of work performed.
How does it change in a sentence?
Depending on who you are addressing, the form changes.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɾabaxas duɾo/
Did you know?
- While duro means 'hard' in this context, it is also the name of a historical Spanish silver coin. In some contexts, duro can refer to money rather than effort.
- The informal phrase echarle ganas literally means 'to throw desire into it'. It treats effort and willpower as a physical substance that can be poured into a task.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, saying trabajas mucho can be a subtle way of suggesting that someone is overworking themselves or neglecting their personal life.
Examples in context
- Trabajas duro.You work hard.This sentence shows the basic statement using trabajas duro.Tatoeba #580825 by Shishir, translation #15993 by CK
- ¡Tú trabajas duro!You work hard!This sentence shows an emphatic version using trabajas duro.Tatoeba #1730992 by marcelostockle, translation #1728576 by belgavox
- Si trabajas duro y nunca te rindes, puedes lograr cualquier cosa … si tienes suerte.If you work hard, and never give up, you can accomplish anything… if you're lucky.This sentence shows how to use trabajas duro within a conditional sentence about achieving goals.Tatoeba #10159876 by carlosalberto, translation #10127948 by espamatics
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are talking in a coffee shop about their jobs.
- LucíaJavier, siempre trabajas duro en la oficina.Javier, you always work hard in the office.
- JavierGracias, Lucía, pero a veces estoy muy cansado.Thanks, Lucía, but sometimes I am very tired.
- LucíaLo sé, por eso mereces un descanso.I know, that's why you deserve a break.
- JavierTienes razón, voy a tomarme unas vacaciones.You are right, I am going to take a vacation.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
