When you're learning French, you might quickly pick up 'dur' as the go-to word for 'hard'. And while 'dur' is certainly useful, French, like any rich language, offers a fascinating array of alternatives to express different shades of 'hard' – whether you're talking about a difficult task, a tough material, or a strong effort. Knowing these variations will not only make your French sound more natural and nuanced but also allow you to express yourself with greater precision. So, let's dive into 9 different ways to say 'hard' in French, helping you master this versatile concept!

The standard 'difficult' or 'tough' (task, life) – difficile

The standard 'difficult' or 'tough' (task, life) – difficile

Difficile is the most common and versatile French word for 'difficult' or 'tough'.

Unlike many French adjectives, difficile is invariable in gender and number. This means it doesn't change its form whether it refers to a masculine, feminine, singular, or plural noun.

Its primary use is to describe tasks, problems, exams, or any undertaking that requires effort or presents obstacles. For example, un exercice difficile (a difficult exercise) or un problème difficile à résoudre (a difficult problem to solve).

It also frequently describes life situations, periods, or circumstances that are challenging or hard to endure. Think une vie difficile (a tough life) or une période difficile (a difficult period).

While less common than for objects or situations, difficile can also describe a person as 'demanding' or 'hard to please', though often exigeant (demanding) or pas facile (not easy) might be preferred for people.

Difficile fits perfectly in both formal and informal conversations, making it a reliable choice in almost any context.

Its direct opposite is facile, meaning 'easy'.

You'll often hear expressions like C'est difficile (It's difficult) or avoir du mal (to have difficulty, literally 'to have bad') which is closely related to the concept of difficile.

💡 * C'est une question difficile à répondre. (It's a difficult question to answer.)

• La vie peut être très difficile parfois. (Life can be very tough sometimes.)
• J'ai trouvé cet examen difficile. (I found this exam difficult.)
• Ce n'est pas facile, mais ce n'est pas impossible non plus. (It's not easy, but it's not impossible either.)
• Il a eu une enfance difficile. (He had a difficult childhood.)

The 'solid' or 'hard' (material, object) – dur/dure

The “solid” or “hard” (material, object) – dur/dure

The French adjective dur (masculine) or dure (feminine) is primarily used to describe something that is physically hard, solid, or firm to the touch or resistant to pressure.

Like many French adjectives, dur must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. You'll use dur for masculine nouns (e.g., un sol dur - a hard ground) and dure for feminine nouns (e.g., une pierre dure - a hard stone).

This term is perfect for describing materials or objects that possess significant physical rigidity. Think of substances that are not soft, pliable, or easy to break, such as metal, stone, or old bread.

It's important to differentiate dur/dure from difficile. While 'hard' in English can mean 'difficult,' dur/dure rarely means 'difficult' in French in a general sense; difficile is used for that. Dur/dure almost exclusively refers to physical properties.

Beyond materials, dur/dure can describe textures or sensations, like a lit dur (a hard bed) or une surface dure (a hard surface), emphasizing the lack of softness or give.

While its main use is physical, dur/dure can sometimes extend figuratively to describe a 'tough' or 'harsh' situation (une vie dure - a hard life) or a 'tough' person, but the core meaning always relates back to a sense of unyieldingness.

💡 * Le marbre est une pierre très dure. (Marble is a very hard stone.)

• J'ai dormi sur un lit dur et je n'ai pas bien dormi. (I slept on a hard bed and didn't sleep well.)
• Le pain est devenu dur comme de la pierre. (The bread has become hard as rock.)
• Il faut un couteau bien aiguisé pour couper ce fromage dur. (You need a sharp knife to cut this hard cheese.)
• Cette table en bois massif est très dure. (This solid wood table is very hard.)

The 'arduous' or 'strenuous' (task, effort) – ardu/ardue

The French adjective ardu (masculine) or ardue (feminine) translates to 'arduous,' 'strenuous,' 'demanding,' or 'tough' in English.

It is primarily used to describe tasks, efforts, challenges, or work that requires significant effort, difficulty, or perseverance.

Like all French adjectives, ardu must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. So, you'll use ardu for masculine nouns (e.g., un travail ardu) and ardue for feminine nouns (e.g., une tâche ardue).

You will frequently encounter phrases like un travail ardu (arduous work), une tâche ardue (a strenuous task), un effort ardu (a demanding effort), or une ascension ardue (a tough climb).

Ardu/ardue implies a high degree of difficulty, often suggesting something that is hard to achieve or overcome, rather than just being 'difficult' (difficile) or 'complicated' (compliqué).

The word ardu comes from the Latin arduus, meaning 'steep,' 'high,' or 'difficult,' which perfectly encapsulates its modern French meaning.

💡 * L'ascension de cette montagne est très ardue. (The climb of this mountain is very arduous.)

• C'était une tâche ardue, mais nous l'avons accomplie. (It was a strenuous task, but we accomplished it.)
• Il a fourni un effort ardu pour réussir l'examen. (He made a demanding effort to pass the exam.)
• Apprendre une nouvelle langue peut être un processus ardu. (Learning a new language can be an arduous process.)

The 'strict' or 'harsh' (rule, person) – sévère

The French adjective sévère translates to “strict,” “harsh,” “severe,” or “stern” in English. It describes something or someone that is rigorous, unyielding, or demanding.

When applied to rules, laws, or discipline, sévère indicates that they are rigid, uncompromising, and allow little room for deviation. This often implies a lack of leniency.

When describing a person, sévère refers to someone who is stern, demanding, or unsmiling. It can also describe a harsh judgment or criticism. Unlike some English equivalents, it doesn't necessarily imply cruelty, but rather a serious and rigorous nature.

💡 *Le professeur est très sévère avec ses élèves. (The teacher is very strict with his students.)
*Les règles de ce club sont assez sévères. (The rules of this club are quite strict.)
*Il a reçu une punition sévère pour son comportement. (He received a severe punishment for his behavior.)
*Son regard sévère m'a fait comprendre que je devais me taire. (His stern look made me understand I had to be quiet.)
*Ce régime est trop sévère pour moi. (This diet is too strict for me.)

The 'complex' or 'complicated' (problem, concept) – complexe

The 'complex' or 'complicated' (problem, concept) – complexe

Complexe is a versatile French adjective used to describe something that is intricate, elaborate, or difficult to understand due to many interconnected parts. It can refer to ideas, systems, problems, or situations.

As an adjective, complexe is invariable in gender in its singular form (e.g., un problème complexe, une question complexe), but it takes an 's' in the plural: des problèmes complexes, des questions complexes.

While often interchangeable, complexe generally implies inherent intricacy and depth, whereas compliqué often suggests difficulty, hassle, or something made unnecessarily hard. Think of complexe as 'intricate' and compliqué as 'fussy' or 'hard to deal with.'

It's important to note that un complexe (a noun) has a different meaning, referring to a 'complex' in the psychological sense (e.g., 'inferiority complex') or a group of buildings (e.g., 'un complexe sportif' - a sports complex).

For describing concepts, systems, or situations that are inherently intricate and multi-layered, complexe is the appropriate choice. It conveys a sense of depth and nuance rather than just simple difficulty.

💡 * C'est un problème complexe. (It's a complex problem.)

• La situation est plus complexe qu'il n'y paraît. (The situation is more complex than it seems.)
• Il a expliqué une théorie très complexe. (He explained a very complex theory.)
• L'algorithme est vraiment complexe. (The algorithm is really complex.)

The 'stiff' or 'rigid' (body part, material) – raide

The French adjective raide is a versatile word used to describe something that is 'stiff,' 'rigid,' or 'straight.' It applies to both physical sensations in the body and the properties of materials or objects.

When referring to the body, raide commonly describes a part that is inflexible, often due to pain, tension, or injury. For example, you might have a dos raide (stiff back) or a nuque raide (stiff neck) after sleeping awkwardly or exercising too much.

Beyond the body, raide is used for materials or objects that lack flexibility or are unyielding. Think of cheveux raides (straight hair), une planche raide (a rigid plank), or a fabric that is raide comme la justice (stiff as a board, literally 'stiff as justice'). It can also describe a very upright or rigid posture.

While its primary meanings are 'stiff' and 'rigid,' raide can also appear in expressions like être raide mort (to be stone dead) or tomber raide (to drop dead/faint). These highlight the sense of sudden, complete immobility or rigidity.

💡 *J'ai le dos raide ce matin. (My back is stiff this morning.)
*Elle a les cheveux raides et lisses. (She has straight and smooth hair.)
*Le tissu est trop raide pour cette robe. (The fabric is too stiff for this dress.)
*Il est tombé raide après le choc. (He dropped dead/fainted after the shock.)
*Les murs de la tente étaient raides et bien tendus. (The tent walls were rigid and well-stretched.)

The 'rigorous' or 'demanding' (training, conditions) – rigoureux/rigoureuse

The French adjective rigoureux (masculine) or rigoureuse (feminine) translates to 'rigorous,' 'strict,' 'demanding,' or 'thorough.' It describes something that is precise, exact, and leaves no room for error or laxity.

This adjective is frequently used to describe training, methods, conditions, analysis, or discipline that require great precision, strict adherence to rules, or significant effort. For instance, a 'rigorous training' implies a demanding and disciplined approach.

As an adjective, rigoureux/rigoureuse must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use rigoureux for masculine singular nouns (e.g., un entraînement rigoureux) and rigoureuse for feminine singular nouns (e.g., une analyse rigoureuse). For plural forms, it becomes rigoureux (masculine plural) and rigoureuses (feminine plural).

💡 * Un entraînement rigoureux est essentiel pour les athlètes de haut niveau. (Rigorous training is essential for high-level athletes.)

• Elle a mené une analyse rigoureuse des données. (She conducted a rigorous analysis of the data.)
• Les conditions de travail sont très rigoureuses dans cette usine. (The working conditions are very demanding in this factory.)
• Il faut être rigoureux dans l'application de ces règles. (One must be rigorous in applying these rules.)
• Ses méthodes d'enseignement sont rigoureuses mais efficaces. (His teaching methods are rigorous but effective.)

The 'intense' or 'strong' (pain, effort) – intense

The French adjective intense translates directly to 'intense' or 'strong' in English. It's used to describe something of great strength, degree, or feeling.

You'll frequently hear intense used to qualify physical sensations like pain (douleur intense) or strong emotions such as joy (joie intense) or sadness (tristesse intense).

It also applies to significant effort (effort intense) or even the brightness of light (lumière intense), indicating a high level or degree.

As an adjective, intense agrees with the noun it modifies. It remains the same for both masculine and feminine singular forms. For plural, it becomes intenses.

💡 * J'ai ressenti une douleur intense après ma chute. (I felt intense pain after my fall.)

• Il a fourni un effort intense pour finir le projet à temps. (He put in an intense effort to finish the project on time.)
• La joie était intense sur leurs visages après la victoire. (The joy was intense on their faces after the victory.)
• Nous avons vécu un moment d'émotion intense lors de la cérémonie. (We experienced a moment of intense emotion during the ceremony.)
• La lumière du soleil est très intense ici en été. (The sunlight is very intense here in summer.)

The 'tough' or 'hard-hitting' (blow, impact) – violent/violente

The French adjective violent (masculine) and violente (feminine) is commonly used to describe something 'tough' or 'hard-hitting,' particularly when referring to physical blows, impacts, or intense forces. While it also means 'violent' in its aggressive sense, this section focuses on its application to strong physical phenomena.

Just like many French adjectives, violent changes its form based on the gender of the noun it modifies. You use violent for masculine nouns (e.g., un choc violent - a violent impact) and violente for feminine nouns (e.g., une poussée violente - a violent push).

When you want to convey a 'hard-hitting' blow or a 'tough' impact, violent is the precise word. For instance, un coup violent translates to 'a hard blow' or 'a powerful hit,' emphasizing the intensity and force. Similarly, un choc violent means 'a severe impact' or 'a violent shock,' indicating a powerful collision.

The usage of violent/violente extends beyond direct physical blows to describe other strong or intense phenomena. You might hear un vent violent for 'a strong wind' or une douleur violente for 'a severe pain.' In these contexts, it conveys the idea of something being 'tough' to endure or 'intensely strong.'

💡 *Il a reçu un coup violent à la tête. (He received a hard blow to the head.)
*La tempête a provoqué des vents violents. (The storm caused strong winds.)
*Elle a ressenti une douleur violente après la chute. (She felt a severe pain after the fall.)
*Le choc a été si violent que la voiture est irréparable. (The impact was so violent that the car is irreparable.)
*Malgré son apparence fragile, elle a une volonté violente. (Despite her fragile appearance, she has a strong will.)

Are there other ways to say 'hard' in French?

Are there other ways to say “hard” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “hard” in French. But there are other terms, from old-fashioned ones, to regional ones, to up-and-coming slang ones this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire dur en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting synonyms for dur or difficile on this list. Of course, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to express the concept of 'hard' or 'difficult'.

And if you’re looking for more nuances or specific contexts for 'hard' or 'difficult' in French, the WordReference entry for dur or difficile is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is the perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of Beaumarchais: La difficulté de réussir ne fait qu'ajouter à la nécessité d'entreprendre. (The difficulty of succeeding only adds to the necessity of undertaking.)