Difficult in different languages

Difficult in Different Languages

Discover 'Difficult' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'difficult' is a common English term that holds great significance in our daily lives. It describes a situation, task, or concept that requires a significant amount of effort, skill, or perseverance to overcome. The cultural importance of this word is evident in various aspects of society, including education, business, and sports. Its usage transcends borders and cultures, making it a universal concept that people from all walks of life can relate to.

Moreover, understanding the translation of 'difficult' in different languages can provide valuable insights into how other cultures perceive and approach challenges. For instance, the Spanish translation of 'difficult' is 'difícil,' while in French, it is 'difficile.' These translations not only reflect linguistic differences but also cultural nuances in how challenges are perceived and addressed.

So, whether you're a language learner looking to expand your vocabulary or a cultural enthusiast interested in understanding different perspectives, exploring the translations of 'difficult' can be a fascinating journey. In the following list, you'll find various translations of this word in different languages, shedding light on the diverse ways people around the world view and tackle challenges.

Difficult


Difficult in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansmoeilik
"Moeilik" is derived from the Dutch word "moeilijk" meaning "difficult, troublesome, or hard to do" and is cognate with the English word "moiling" meaning "toiling, drudging, or labouring".
Amharicአስቸጋሪ
The word ብፍረስ (difficult) is derived from the verb ሄላ ፍቀጳፋ ቅሐቆፋ which means to be stuck
Hausawuya
The word "wuya" can also mean "trouble" or "annoyance" in Hausa.
Igbosiri ike
The Igbo word "siri ike" not only means "difficult" but also implies a sense of impossibility or insurmountable challenges.
Malagasysarotra
The word "sarotra" in Malagasy is derived from the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian word "*saqat" meaning "difficult or heavy."
Nyanja (Chichewa)zovuta
"Zovuta" can also mean "serious" or "important" in Nyanja.
Shonazvakaoma
The word "zvakaoma" in Shona has a complex etymology and can also mean "heavy" or "burdensome".
Somaliadag
The word "adag" can also refer to a "thick fog" or "difficulty" in Somali.
Sesothothatafala
The word 'thatafala' also translates to an expression of gratitude for a person who has assisted with a difficult matter.
Swahilingumu
The word "ngumu" also means "hard" in the context of hardness or rigidity.
Xhosakunzima
The word "kunzima" is derived from the Xhosa word "kunzima", which means "heavy". It can also be used to describe something that is difficult or challenging.
Yorubasoro
The Yoruba word "soro" can also refer to "matters" or "issues".
Zulukunzima
The word "kunzima" derives from the root "nzi", meaning "hard" or "difficult", and is also related to the noun "inselele", meaning "trouble" or "hardship".
Bambaragɛlɛnman
Ewesesẽ
Kinyarwandabiragoye
Lingalampasi
Lugandaokukaluba
Sepedibothata
Twi (Akan)den

Difficult in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicصعب
The word "صعب" is also used to describe a steep or rugged path or a person with a strong character.
Hebrewקָשֶׁה
The word 'קָשֶׁה' (difficult) has an additional meaning in Hebrew - hard, as in 'hard wood'.
Pashtoمشکل
مشکل ('difficult') is cognate with the Persian word مشکل ('difficulty'), both deriving from the Arabic word مشقة ('hardship').
Arabicصعب
The word "صعب" is also used to describe a steep or rugged path or a person with a strong character.

Difficult in Western European Languages

Albaniane vështirë
The word 'vështirë' has two possible origins, meaning either 'weighty' or 'heavy'
Basquezaila
The Basque word "zaila" can also mean "stubborn" or "obstinate".
Catalandifícil
The Catalan word "difícil" is derived from the Latin word "difficilis" meaning 'full of difficulty'.
Croatianteško
In addition to meaning 'difficult', 'teško' also means 'heavy' or 'weighty'.
Danishsvært
The word "svært" derives from the Old Norse word "svartr," meaning "black" or "dark."
Dutchmoeilijk
The etymology of "moeilijk" in Dutch is rooted in the word "moete," which means "effort," emphasizing its laborious nature.
Englishdifficult
The word "difficult" originates from the Latin word "difficilis," meaning "hard to do or accomplish."
Frenchdifficile
The word 'difficile' is derived from the Latin word 'difficilis', which means 'hard to do' or 'troublesome', and also 'awkward', 'unfavorable', and 'hard to understand'.
Frisiandreech
The word "dreech" comes from the Old Frisian word "dregghe", meaning "sad" or "bad weather".
Galiciandifícil
The word "difícil" in Galician also refers to a specific type of musical composition based on a popular tune, similar to a "folía" or "foliada"
Germanschwer
The word "schwer" is derived from the Middle High German word "swære" which also means "heavy".
Icelandicerfitt
Erfitt shares the same root as afreitt, meaning "at ease" or "comfortable."
Irishdeacair
"Deacair," from Old Celtic "docaros", "bad, hard, unpleasant," is cognate to Welsh, Cornish & Breton forms meaning "bad." It's related to Proto-Indo-European "dus-", akin to Russian "dukh." It refers to something "morally difficult, not easily accomplished."
Italiandifficile
"Difficile" in Italian also means the anaerobic Gram-positive bacterium Clostridioides difficile.
Luxembourgishschwéier
The etymology of "schwéier" is unknown, but it may be related to the Old High German word "swer","heavy".
Maltesediffiċli
"Diffiċli" can also mean "hard" in a physical sense, like difficulty opening a door.
Norwegianvanskelig
Vanskelig is derived from the Old Norse
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)difícil
The word "difícil" comes from the Latin word "difficilis," meaning "not easy". In Portuguese, it can also mean "hard" or "tough".
Scots Gaelicduilich
The word 'duilich' originates from the Gaelic word 'do-fhaicil,' meaning 'not-easy'.
Spanishdifícil
The original meaning of "difícil" is not "difficult," but rather "not easy" or "requiring effort.
Swedishsvår
"Svår" is a cognate of the English word "severe" and the German word "schwer".
Welshanodd
While "anodd" mainly means "difficult" in Welsh, the word also means "wonderful" or implies "very".

Difficult in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianскладана
The word "складана" in Belarusian is derived from the verb "складаць", meaning "to fold" or "to put together", and can also refer to something that is "complicated" or "intricate".
Bosnianteško
The word "teško" in Bosnian can also mean "heavy," "difficult to move," or "hard to bear."
Bulgarianтрудно
The word “трудно” in Bulgarian is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *trudъ (“hard work, difficulty”) and is related to the English words “trouble,” “travail,” “thrive,” “tribe,” “tribute,” “true,” “truce,” and “troop.”
Czechobtížný
The Czech word "obtížný" is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word "obъtiščъni", meaning "burdened" or "oppressed".
Estonianraske
This word is of Baltic origin and is related to the Lithuanian word "r?ksti", which means "to be hard, firm".
Finnishvaikea
"Vaikea" also means "demanding, difficult to please, burdensome, hard to handle, complicated, intricate, complex, perplexing, puzzling, or mysterious."
Hungariannehéz
Nehéz shares roots with the word
Latviangrūti
The Latvian word "grūti" originates from the Proto-Indo-European root "*greu-," meaning "heavy," and is related to Old Prussian "grūsis" and the Lithuanian word "gražus."
Lithuaniansunku
Cognate with the Proto-Indo-European root *ḱwen-g- “to suffer” (also found in Latin angor “anguish, distress” and Sanskrit shákrah “powerful”)
Macedonianтешко
"Тешко" can mean "difficult" or "heavy" in Macedonian, and is related to the word "тежина" (weight).
Polishtrudny
The word "trudny" in Polish also contains the idea of "lasting a long time" or "difficult to endure".
Romaniandificil
The Romanian word "dificil" derives from the Latin "difficilis," meaning both "difficult" and "hard to handle."
Russianтрудно
The Russian word "трудно" is thought to be derived from the Proto-Slavic "trъdъ" meaning “hard” or “severe,” but also “expensive.”
Serbianтешко
The word "тешко" in Serbian can also mean "heavy" or "arduous" and is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *tęgъ.
Slovakťažké
The word "ťažké" also means "heavy" in Slovak, reflecting the physical and mental effort involved in overcoming difficulty.
Sloveniantežko
The Slovenian word "težko" derives from the Proto-Slavic root "*těžъkъ", meaning "heavy" or "hard".
Ukrainianважко
Meaning “hard to lift or carry” is also reflected in Polish word “ciężki,” with the same root and original meaning.

Difficult in South Asian Languages

Bengaliকঠিন
"কঠিন" comes from the Sanskrit word "kaṭhina", meaning "hard", but it also carries the connotation of something being "uncomfortable" or "distasteful."
Gujaratiમુશ્કેલ
मुश्किल (mushkil) originates from the Persian word مشكل (mushkil), which means 'doubtful' or 'suspicious', and is related to the Arabic word مشكل (mushkil), which means 'difficult' or 'laborious'.
Hindiकठिन
The word "कठिन" can also mean "hard" or "strong" in Hindi, and is related to the Sanskrit word "कटु" meaning "bitter" or "sharp."
Kannadaಕಷ್ಟ
"ಕಷ್ಟ" (kaṣṭa) also refers to "suffering," "pain," "hardship," or "adversity" in Kannada.
Malayalamബുദ്ധിമുട്ടുള്ള
Marathiकठीण
The word "कठीण" (difficult) is derived from the Sanskrit word "कठिन" (hard, solid), which also means "harsh" or "severe" in Marathi.
Nepaliगाह्रो
गाह्रो is derived from the Sanskrit word 'घोर' ('horrible'). It can also refer to a 'deep ravine' or a 'precipice'.
Punjabiਮੁਸ਼ਕਲ
"ਮੁਸ਼ਕਲ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "muṣka" meaning 'fist,' implying a tight or difficult situation analogous to that of a tightly clenched fist.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)දුෂ්කර
The word 'දුෂ්කර' (duskara) is derived from Sanskrit and Pali and originally meant 'bad or evil action'.
Tamilகடினம்
The word "கடினம்" (difficult) in Tamil also refers to "hardness" or "firmness" in the context of physical objects.
Teluguకష్టం
The word 'కష్టం' can also refer to 'trouble', 'hardship', 'suffering', or 'pain'.
Urduمشکل
The word "مشکل" in Urdu is derived from the Arabic word "مشکل" (mushkil), which means "difficult, hard, or complicated."

Difficult in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
The character "难" derives from the pictograph of a woman with a child on her back, indicating hardship.
Chinese (Traditional)
難 originates as the representation of an adult hanging from a tree, a difficult feat.
Japanese難しい
The word "難しい" can also mean "mysterious" or "intricate".
Korean어려운
"어려운" also means "unripe" or "unskillful".
Mongolianхэцүү
"Хэцүү" also means "unlucky" or "bad luck" in Mongolian.
Myanmar (Burmese)ခက်ခဲသည်

Difficult in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiansulit
In some contexts, "sulit" can also mean "rare" or "scarce"
Javaneseangel
The word "angel" in Javanese also means "embarrassed" or "shy".
Khmerពិបាក
ពិបាក is derived from Sanskrit 'vibādha' (obstruction) referring to problems and obstacles that cause distress and hindrance.
Laoຫຍຸ້ງຍາກ
Malaysukar
The word "sukar" is derived from the Sanskrit word "sukara" meaning "pig".
Thaiยาก
The Thai word "ยาก" ('difficult') comes from Khmer យក ('to take') and refers to something that requires effort or exertion.
Vietnamesekhó khăn
Khó khăn is an onomatopoeia stemming from the word "khó" (dry) and "khăn" (towel), signifying a state of being "as dry as a towel". In certain contexts, it denotes a sense of "lacking" or "wanting" for something.
Filipino (Tagalog)mahirap

Difficult in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniçətindir
The word ''çətindir'' is derived from the Persian word ''cetin'', meaning ''strong'' or ''firm''.
Kazakhқиын
"Қиын" also means "narrow" or "confined" in Kazakh.
Kyrgyzкыйын
Kyrgyz "кыйын" shares the same origin as the Turkish "kıvılcım" meaning "spark", suggesting a connection to the idea of difficulty being like a spark that ignites challenges or obstacles.
Tajikмушкил
The word "мушкил" in Tajik is also used to refer to a type of facial mole.}
Turkmenkyn
Uzbekqiyin
The word "qiyin" also means "heavy" or "serious" in Uzbek.
Uyghurقىيىن

Difficult in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianpaʻakikī
The Hawaiian word "paʻakikī" originally referred to a particular type of hard rock, but has come to be used figuratively to describe anything difficult.
Maoriuaua
The word "uaua" can also be used to describe something that is "difficult" or "challenging" in a physical or mental sense.
Samoanfaigata
Faigata has the literal translation of “too good”
Tagalog (Filipino)mahirap
The Tagalog word "mahirap" comes from the root word "hirap," which means "hardship" or "difficulty," and the prefix "ma-" which intensifies the meaning.

Difficult in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarach'ama
Guaranihasy

Difficult in International Languages

Esperantomalfacila
The Esperanto word "malfacila" is derived from the Latin words "male" (badly) and "facilis" (easy), and also has the alternate meaning of "hard to do" or "difficult."
Latindifficilis
"Difficilis" also has a meaning similar to the English "disagreeable".

Difficult in Others Languages

Greekδύσκολος
The word "δύσκολος" comes from the Ancient Greek word "δυσ- ("bad") + κολος ("limb") and originally meant "crippled" or "lame"
Hmongnyuaj
"Nyuaj" can also mean "hard to understand" or "difficult to solve."
Kurdishasteng
The word "asteng" in Kurdish also means "narrow" or "tight".
Turkishzor
The word "zor" in Turkish also means "must" or "force".
Xhosakunzima
The word "kunzima" is derived from the Xhosa word "kunzima", which means "heavy". It can also be used to describe something that is difficult or challenging.
Yiddishשווער
In addition to its primary meaning of "difficult," "שווער" can also mean "heavy" or "serious" in Yiddish.
Zulukunzima
The word "kunzima" derives from the root "nzi", meaning "hard" or "difficult", and is also related to the noun "inselele", meaning "trouble" or "hardship".
Assameseকঠিন
Aymarach'ama
Bhojpuriअलटाह
Dhivehiއުދަނގޫ
Dogriऔक्खा
Filipino (Tagalog)mahirap
Guaranihasy
Ilocanonarigat
Krionɔ kin izi
Kurdish (Sorani)سەخت
Maithiliकठिन
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯑꯔꯨꯕ
Mizoharsa
Oromorakkisaa
Odia (Oriya)କଷ୍ଟକର |
Quechuasasachakuy
Sanskritकठिनम्‌
Tatarавыр
Tigrinyaከቢድ
Tsongaku tika

Click on a letter to browse words starting with that letter