Hard in different languages

Hard in Different Languages

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

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'hard' is simple, yet holds a wealth of significance across different cultures and languages. It can describe a physical object's firmness or a task's difficulty. Its cultural importance is evident in idioms like 'working hard' or 'playing hard,' reflecting values of perseverance and enjoyment.

Moreover, understanding the translation of 'hard' in various languages can provide unique insights into cultural nuances. For instance, in Spanish, 'duro' (masculine) or 'dura' (feminine) translates to 'hard,' but it can also mean 'lasting' or 'tough' depending on the context. Similarly, in German, 'hart' signifies 'hard,' but it can also mean 'harsh' or 'stern' in certain contexts.

So, why should you know the translation of 'hard' in different languages? It's not just about communication; it's about appreciating the richness of cultural diversity and expanding your linguistic repertoire. Here are some translations of 'hard' in various languages to get you started:

Hard


Hard in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansmoeilik
The word "moeilik" in Afrikaans is derived from the Dutch word "moeilijk", which also means "difficult" or "hard".
Amharicከባድ
The word "ከባድ" in Amharic is related to the word "ከባድ" in Arabic, which means "weighty" or "heavy".
Hausawuya
The word "wuya" is also used in Hausa to describe something that is difficult or challenging, as in the phrase "aiki wuya" (difficult work).
Igbosiri ike
"Siri ike" can also mean "strong" or "stubborn" depending on the context.
Malagasymafy
The word "mafy" can also mean "strong" or "heavy."
Nyanja (Chichewa)zovuta
Zovuta is also used to refer to a difficult or challenging situation or task.
Shonazvakaoma
The word "zvakaoma" can also mean "firm","heavy" or "difficult" in Shona.
Somaliadag
"Adag" can also mean "to become hard" or "to be durable".
Sesothoka thata
The word 'ka thata' in Sesotho can also refer to something that is difficult or challenging.
Swahilingumu
The word "ngumu" also means "serious" or "difficult" in Swahili.
Xhosanzima
"Hard" in Xhosa, "nzima", comes from the noun "umzimba" meaning "body", which also refers to "the self". In addition to something that is difficult, it can also refer to something that is "of substance" or "meaningful."
Yorubalile
The word "lile" in Yoruba can also mean "difficult" or "unyielding".
Zulukanzima
The word 'kanzima' can also refer to a type of African hardwood or a specific tree species in the genus 'Strychnos'.
Bambaragɛlɛnman
Ewesesẽ
Kinyarwandabigoye
Lingalamakasi
Lugandaobugumu
Sepedibothata
Twi (Akan)den

Hard in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicالصعب
الصعب "hard" is the opposite of السهل "easy" and has the alternate meanings of strict, difficult, and tough.
Hebrewקָשֶׁה
The Hebrew word "קָשֶׁה" also means "difficult" or "strict".
Pashtoسخت
The Pashto word for "hard" (سخت) is also used to mean "difficult" and "unpleasant."
Arabicالصعب
الصعب "hard" is the opposite of السهل "easy" and has the alternate meanings of strict, difficult, and tough.

Hard in Western European Languages

Albaniane vështirë
The Albanian word "e vështirë" (hard) is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*gʷer-/*gʷʰər-" (heavy, hard) and is cognate with words like "grave" in English, "grav" in French, and "grav" in Spanish.
Basquegogorra
The word "gogorra" shares an etymology with "gogor" (firm, robust) but also carries connotations of strength, toughness, and stubbornness.
Catalandur
The word "dur" also means "lasting" or "durable" in Catalan.
Croatianteško
The word 'teško' has multiple meanings in Croatian including 'hard', 'heavy', and 'difficult'.
Danishsvært
The word 'svært' can also mean 'very' or 'difficult' in Danish.
Dutchmoeilijk
In older texts 'moeilijk' could also imply 'laborious', 'tedious' or 'cumbersome'.
Englishhard
"Hard" comes from the Proto-Germanic word "harduz", which also means "firm" or "solid".
Frenchdur
In the 17th century, 'dur' also had the meaning of 'dutiful'.
Frisianhurd
Hurd is the Frisian form of hard and is related to the English words hoard, horde and hoard, from the Proto-Germanic word *hurd- meaning "heap" or "collection".
Galicianduro
The Galician word "duro" also means "lasting" or "durable", and in plural form, it can mean "money".
Germanschwer
In German, "schwer" can also mean "grave" or "difficult".
Icelandicerfitt
The Icelandic word "erfitt" is derived from the Old Norse word "erfiði", which means "toil" or "effort". It is also related to the German word "Arbeit", which has the same meaning.
Irishcrua
The word "crua" in Irish can also refer to a "crowd" or an "army".
Italiandifficile
"Difficile" also means "hard to please" in Italian, because something hard (difficult) to please, is generally not easy (difficult) to win over.
Luxembourgishschwéier
Malteseiebes
The Maltese word "iebes" is derived from the Arabic word "yabis", meaning "dry" or "hard".
Norwegianhard
The Norwegian word "hard" also means "left" and can be used to refer to the left hand or the left side of something.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)difícil
The word "difícil" comes from the Latin "difficilis," which means "not easy to do or achieve"}
Scots Gaeliccruaidh
In Irish, "cruaidh" means "difficult" and in Middle Irish it also meant "heavy".
Spanishdifícil
The word "difícil" in Spanish can also mean "difficult to please" or "capricious".
Swedishhård
The word "hård" can also mean "rough" or "difficult" in Swedish.
Welshcaled
The Welsh word "caled" (hard) derives from the Proto-Celtic word "*kaldo-", meaning "hard" or "harsh". It is also related to the Irish word "caladh" (harbour or haven).

Hard in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianцяжка
Цяжка may also refer to a wooden rod in a loom or a type of large wooden bowl.
Bosnianteško
The word "teško" is derived from the Proto-Slavic *tęgъ, meaning "heavy", and also has the meaning of "difficult".
Bulgarianтвърд
В българския език думата "твърд" произлиза от старославянския "твърдъ" и има значение и "здрав"
Czechtvrdý
"Tvrdý" can also mean "difficult" or "strong" in Czech, similar to its usage in other Slavic languages.
Estonianraske
The Estonian word "raske" also means "heavy".
Finnishkovaa
The word "kovaa" can also refer to "very much" or "a lot" in Finnish.
Hungariankemény
In Hungarian folklore, "kemény" can also refer to a supernatural entity associated with water.
Latviangrūti
The Latvian word "grūti" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *gʷer-, meaning "heavy" or "difficult," and is related to the English word "grave."
Lithuaniansunku
In ancient Baltic languages, the word "sunku" referred to physical hardness, difficulty, and heaviness, while in modern Lithuanian, it also denotes metaphorical difficulty, hardship, and sorrow.
Macedonianтешко
The word "тешко" in Macedonian also has the meaning of "difficult" or "troublesome".
Polishciężko
The word "ciężko" in Polish can also mean "difficult" or "heavy".
Romaniangreu
The word "greu" shares the same root as the French word "grief" and the English word "grave".
Russianжесткий
The Russian word "жесткий" has an additional connotation of rigidity or unyieldingness, and can be used figuratively to describe something as "uncompromising" or "strict."
Serbianтешко
"Тешко" also means "hard to do" or "badly" or "painful".
Slovakťažko
The word "ťažko" in Slovak can also mean "with difficulty" or "seriously".
Sloveniantežko
The word 'težko' in Slovenian can also mean 'difficult' or 'heavy'.
Ukrainianважко
The word "важко" can also mean "difficult" or "heavy" in Ukrainian.

Hard in South Asian Languages

Bengaliশক্ত
শক্ত can refer to both physical hardness and mental strength or difficulty, and is cognate with the Sanskrit word "shakta," meaning "powerful."
Gujaratiસખત
The word "સખત" can also mean "difficult" or "tough" in Gujarati.
Hindiकठिन
कठिन (kaThin) in Hindi is derived from Sanskrit 'KaT' (to cut) and means 'difficult' due to the notion of resisting being cut
Kannadaಕಠಿಣ
In older forms of Kannada, the word 'ಕಠಿಣ' also meant 'difficult' or 'complex'
Malayalamകഠിനമാണ്
The word "കഠിനമാണ്" in Malayalam can also mean "difficult" or "challenging".
Marathiकठीण
The word "कठीण" (hard) in Marathi derives from the Sanskrit word "कठिन" (kathiṇa), meaning "firm", "solid", or "difficult".
Nepaliकडा
The word "कड़ा" also means "harsh" or "severe" in some contexts.
Punjabiਸਖਤ
ਸਖਤ can also mean 'difficult' or 'strict' in Punjabi.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)අමාරුයි
The word "අමාරුයි" (amāruyi) is derived from the Sanskrit word "अमारु" (amāru), which means "immortal" or "deathless".
Tamilகடினமானது
Teluguహార్డ్
The word "హార్డ్" in Telugu can also mean "difficult" or "firm".
Urduسخت
سخت is derived from the Proto-Indo-Iranian word *sakrt-, meaning "once, only, alone".

Hard in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
The character "硬" also means "difficult" or "tough" and can be used in a variety of contexts
Chinese (Traditional)
硬 'hard' is also used as a synonym for 'currency' or 'silver' in Chinese.
Japaneseハード
The Japanese word "ハード" (haado) derives from the Portuguese "duro" meaning "hard" and was adopted in the late 16th century.
Korean단단한
The word "단단한" also has the alternate meanings of "solid" and "firm".
Mongolianхэцүү
The word "хэцүү" can also mean "difficult" or "complex" in Mongolian.
Myanmar (Burmese)ခက်တယ်

Hard in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiankeras
The word 'keras' can also refer to a type of Indonesian traditional music.
Javaneseatos
"Atos" in Javanese not only means "hard" but also "persistent" or "unstoppable".
Khmerរឹង
Also means "mature", "difficult", or "well-developed" in Khmer.
Laoຍາກ
"ຍາກ" can also mean 'difficult' or 'expensive'.
Malaykeras
The Malay word "keras" is cognate with the Thai word "khrat" and the Khmer word "kranh". In Thai, "khrat" also means "bitter".
Thaiยาก
The Thai word 'ยาก' ('hard') also means 'to be difficult; to require hard work to accomplish' and is related to the Lao word 'ຍາກ' ('hard; difficult').
Vietnamesecứng
The word "cứng" in Vietnamese is derived from the Proto-Sino-Tibetan "*kəŋ" meaning "cold" but has shifted to mean "hard" in Vietnamese.
Filipino (Tagalog)mahirap

Hard in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniçətin
The word "çətin" is also used figuratively to mean "difficult to understand" or "complex".
Kazakhқиын
The word "қиын" can also mean "bad" or "harmful" in Kazakh but is only used in certain contexts.
Kyrgyzкыйын
The Kyrgyz word "кыйын" can also mean "difficult" or "complex".
Tajikсахт
The word "сахт" can also refer to the "strength" of a person or animal.
Turkmengaty
Uzbekqiyin
"qiyin" is a Turkish loanword meaning "difficult, hard, troublesome, burdensome, arduous, heavy, ponderous, weighty, stout, sturdy, firm, steadfast, strong, mighty, robust, powerful, violent, great, big, large, huge, vast, immense, wide, broad, spacious, ample, roomy, capacious, extended, extended, wide-spread, extensive, far-reaching, deep, full, abundant, considerable, numerous, manifold, multitudinous, complex, complicated, intricate, involved, elaborate, perplexed, puzzling, enigmatic, obscure, abstruse, difficult to understand, hard to solve, impossible to unravel."
Uyghurجاپالىق

Hard in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianpaʻakikī
Paʻakikī can also refer to firmness or stability, as in the phrase 'paʻa i ka ʻāina' (firmly rooted in the land).
Maoripakeke
Pakēkē in Maori can refer to a physical state or to the process of making something hard or solid
Samoanfaigata
There is another meaning to the word 'faigata', which is 'firm' or 'solid'.
Tagalog (Filipino)mahirap
In Filipino, 'mahirap' also means 'poor' or 'difficult,' illustrating the overlap between material and socioeconomic challenges.

Hard in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaraqhulu
Guaranihatã

Hard in International Languages

Esperantomalmola
The word "malmola" in Esperanto is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *mel-, meaning "to grind" or "to crush"
Latindurum
The Latin word "durum" also designates a hard, wheat variety used for making pasta.

Hard in Others Languages

Greekσκληρός
In addition to its literal meaning, 'σκληρός' can also figuratively refer to obstinacy, severity, or ruthlessness.
Hmongnyuaj
The Hmong word "nyuaj" has two meanings: hard and difficult.
Kurdishhişk
The word hisk is also used in colloquial Kurdish to refer to a person who is stingy or tight-fisted.
Turkishzor
The word "zor" in Turkish is of Arabic origin and also means "force" or "compulsion".
Xhosanzima
"Hard" in Xhosa, "nzima", comes from the noun "umzimba" meaning "body", which also refers to "the self". In addition to something that is difficult, it can also refer to something that is "of substance" or "meaningful."
Yiddishשווער
The Yiddish word "שוועֶר" (shver) can also refer to a father-in-law.
Zulukanzima
The word 'kanzima' can also refer to a type of African hardwood or a specific tree species in the genus 'Strychnos'.
Assameseকঠিন
Aymaraqhulu
Bhojpuriकड़ा
Dhivehiއުނދަގޫ
Dogriसख्त
Filipino (Tagalog)mahirap
Guaranihatã
Ilocanonatangken
Krioat
Kurdish (Sorani)سەخت
Maithiliकड़ा
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯀꯟꯕ
Mizosak
Oromojabaa
Odia (Oriya)କଠିନ
Quechuasasa
Sanskritरूक्षः
Tatarавыр
Tigrinyaከቢድ
Tsongatiya

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