Difficile is the most straightforward and common way to say “difficult” in French. But what if you want to express a different nuance, or simply avoid repeating yourself? As you advance in French, you’ll find that using a wider range of vocabulary makes your conversations and writing much more engaging and precise. Describing something as 'difficult' has many shades, from 'tricky' to 'arduous' to 'challenging'. Let’s explore 9 different ways to say “difficult” in French, so you can choose the perfect word for any situation!

The standard 'difficult' – difficile

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

Unlike many adjectives in French, difficile is special because it does not change its form to agree with the gender of the noun it modifies. It remains difficile whether the noun is masculine or feminine. However, it does change for number, becoming difficiles in the plural.

You can use difficile to describe a wide range of things: a challenging task, a complicated problem, a demanding person, or a tough situation. It fits almost any context where 'difficult' or 'hard' would be used in English.

Its broad applicability makes it an essential word to master, used in both everyday conversations and more formal settings.

It frequently appears in constructions like C'est difficile de... (It's difficult to...) or Il est difficile de... (It is difficult to...) to describe the difficulty of an action. When referring to a noun, it simply precedes or follows it, e.g., un problème difficile (a difficult problem), une question difficile (a difficult question).

For instance, La conjugaison est difficile (Conjugation is difficult) or C'est difficile de comprendre cette règle (It's difficult to understand this rule) are common uses.

While difficile covers most cases, for a 'difficult person,' you might also hear une personne compliquée or une personne exigeante. For 'having a hard time,' the expression avoir du mal à (to have difficulty in/struggle to) is frequently used.

Knowing difficile allows you to express challenges and complexities clearly and effectively in French, making it a cornerstone of your vocabulary.

💡 * C'est un travail très difficile. (It's a very difficult job.)

Elle trouve que l'examen était difficile. (She finds that the exam was difficult.)

Ces exercices sont difficiles. (These exercises are difficult.)

Il est difficile de choisir. (It is difficult to choose.)

Ne sois pas si difficile ! (Don't be so difficult!)

The 'hard' or 'tough' – dur/dure

The French adjective dur (masculine) or dure (feminine) is incredibly versatile, translating to 'hard,' 'tough,' 'difficult,' or even 'harsh' depending on the context. It's a fundamental word for describing both physical properties and abstract concepts, making it a key term for French learners.

Like most French adjectives, dur must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. You'll use dur for masculine nouns (e.g., un bois dur - 'a hard wood') and dure for feminine nouns (e.g., une roche dure - 'a hard rock'). This agreement is crucial for correct usage.

Its most literal meaning refers to physical hardness or solidity. Think of objects that are firm to the touch or difficult to break. For instance, you could say Ce matelas est trop dur ('This mattress is too hard') or La coquille de cette noix est très dure ('The shell of this nut is very hard').

Beyond the physical, dur/dure frequently describes something challenging, difficult, or demanding. This could apply to a task, a situation, or a period of time. For example, C'était une journée dure ('It was a tough day') or Cet examen était très dur ('This exam was very difficult'). This usage is common in everyday conversations.

When applied to people or their actions, dur/dure can mean 'tough,' 'strict,' or even 'harsh.' A personne dure might be someone resilient or unyielding. It can also describe a harsh sound or a difficult truth: Il a une voix dure ('He has a harsh voice') or C'est une dure réalité ('It's a harsh reality').

Several common expressions utilize dur/dure, such as avoir la vie dure ('to have a hard life' or 'to be resilient/hard to kill') or être dur d'oreille ('to be hard of hearing'). These phrases further illustrate the adjective's breadth and idiomatic uses in French, enriching your vocabulary.

💡 *Le sol est très dur ici. (The ground is very hard here.)
*Elle a eu une enfance dure. (She had a tough childhood.)
*Ce problème de maths est trop dur pour moi. (This math problem is too difficult for me.)
*Ne sois pas si dur avec lui. (Don't be so hard on him.)
*La viande était un peu dure. (The meat was a bit tough.)

The 'complicated' – compliqué/compliquée

When something isn't simple, straightforward, or easy to understand, the French word you'll often hear is compliqué or compliquée. It directly translates to 'complicated'.

Like many French adjectives, compliqué agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. You'll use compliqué for masculine singular nouns and compliquée for feminine singular nouns. The plural forms are compliqués (masculine plural or mixed gender) and compliquées (feminine plural).

Most commonly, compliqué/compliquée is used to describe situations, tasks, concepts, or objects that are intricate, challenging to untangle, or not simple. It emphasizes a level of complexity rather than just difficulty.

Mirroring English usage, compliqué/compliquée is also frequently used to describe a relationship that is not straightforward or has many issues. You might hear 'leur relation est compliquée' (their relationship is complicated).

While a complicated thing can certainly be difficult (difficile), compliqué emphasizes the layers, intricacies, or interwoven elements that make it so. It suggests something that is hard to understand or manage due to its inherent structure, rather than just requiring effort.

As with many descriptive adjectives, the precise implication of compliqué/compliquée often depends heavily on the context. Pay attention to the noun it modifies and the surrounding conversation to fully grasp its meaning.

💡 * C'est une situation très compliquée. (It's a very complicated situation.)

Mon travail est parfois compliqué, mais intéressant. (My job is sometimes complicated, but interesting.)

Leur relation est compliquée, ils se disputent souvent. (Their relationship is complicated, they often argue.)

Ce problème de mathématiques est trop compliqué pour moi. (This math problem is too complicated for me.)

Elle a eu une enfance compliquée. (She had a complicated childhood.)

The 'arduous' or 'very difficult' – ardu/ardue

The French adjective ardu (masculine) and ardue (feminine) translates to 'arduous', 'very difficult', or 'strenuous' in English.

As an adjective, ardu must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For example, un travail ardu (an arduous task) vs. une tâche ardue (an arduous task).

This word often implies a difficulty that requires significant effort, persistence, or intellectual challenge, rather than just being 'hard' in a general sense. It's commonly used for tasks, studies, paths, or intellectual problems.

While difficile is a general term for 'difficult', ardu/ardue carries a stronger, more formal, and often more demanding connotation, suggesting a trial or a severe test of ability or endurance.

💡 * L'ascension de cette montagne est très ardue. (The ascent of this mountain is very arduous.)* Il a dû résoudre un problème ardu. (He had to solve an arduous problem.)* La tâche s'est avérée ardue. (The task proved to be arduous.)* Les études de médecine sont réputées ardue. (Medical studies are known to be arduous.)* C'est une épreuve ardue pour tout le monde. (It's an arduous test for everyone.)

The 'tiresome' or 'painful' – pénible

The “tiresome” or “painful” – pénible

Pénible is a versatile adjective in French, most commonly translating to “tiresome,” “annoying,” “painful,” or “difficult.”

When describing a person, pénible means they are annoying, bothersome, or difficult to deal with. It implies they cause irritation or effort.

Applied to situations, tasks, or experiences, pénible conveys that something is arduous, unpleasant, laborious, or causing discomfort, either physically or mentally.

It suggests a degree of nuisance or hardship. While not always intensely “painful” in a physical sense, it certainly implies something is unwelcome or requires significant effort to endure.

💡 * Ce travail est vraiment pénible. (This work is really tiresome/arduous.)

Il est si pénible avec ses blagues répétitives. (He is so annoying with his repetitive jokes.)

J'ai eu une journée pénible à cause du trafic. (I had a tiresome/difficult day because of the traffic.)

La situation est devenue pénible pour tout le monde. (The situation has become painful/difficult for everyone.)

C'est pénible d'attendre si longtemps. (It's annoying/tiresome to wait so long.)

The 'tricky' or 'delicate' – délicat/délicate

The French adjective délicat (masculine) and délicate (feminine) directly translates to “delicate” or “tricky” in English. Its meaning can vary significantly based on context, describing anything from a sensitive situation to a fragile object or a refined person.

One of the most common uses of délicat is to describe a situation, a question, or a subject that is sensitive, complex, or requires careful handling. It implies that there’s a potential for offense or difficulty if not approached with tact.

When referring to physical objects, délicat denotes fragility or a need for gentle treatment, much like 'delicate' in English. It can also describe fine tastes, subtle scents, or intricate craftsmanship, emphasizing a refined quality.

For people, délicat can mean tactful, subtle, or discreet in their actions and words. It can also refer to someone with a sensitive constitution, easily affected by things, or someone with a refined palate.

💡 * C'est une question très délicate. (It's a very tricky/sensitive question.)

Attention, ce vase est très délicat. (Be careful, this vase is very fragile.)

Il a un sens de l'humour assez délicat. (He has a rather subtle sense of humor.)

Elle est d'une santé délicate. (She has delicate health.)

C'est un travail délicat qui demande beaucoup de précision. (It's a delicate task that requires a lot of precision.)

The 'awkward' or 'uneasy' – malaisé/malaisée

To describe something as 'awkward', 'uncomfortable', or 'uneasy' in French, you can use the adjective malaisé or malaisée.

Malaisé (masculine) and malaisée (feminine) are adjectives that describe a situation, a feeling, or even a task that is difficult, uncomfortable, or causes a sense of unease or awkwardness.

As an adjective, malaisé agrees in gender and and number with the noun it modifies. It often describes a situation or an atmosphere, distinguishing it from the expression être mal à l'aise, which describes a person feeling awkward or uncomfortable.

💡 * La situation était très malaisée. (The situation was very awkward.)

J'ai trouvé la conversation malaisée. (I found the conversation uneasy/awkward.)

C'était un silence malaisé entre eux. (It was an awkward silence between them.)

Aborder ce sujet est toujours un peu malaisé. (Bringing up this topic is always a bit difficult/awkward.)

The 'laborious' or 'painstaking' – laborieux/laborieuse

The French adjective laborieux (masculine) and laborieuse (feminine) means 'laborious' or 'painstaking'.

When applied to a person, laborieux/laborieuse describes someone who is 'hardworking', 'diligent', or 'industrious'. It carries a positive connotation of dedication and effort.

When referring to a task, an activity, or an effort, it means 'laborious', 'arduous', or 'painstaking'. This implies that the task requires significant effort, time, and is often difficult.

It's important to differentiate: a personne laborieuse is someone who works hard, whereas a tâche laborieuse is a task that is difficult and requires a lot of hard work.

💡 * C'est un étudiant très laborieux. (He is a very hardworking student.)* La rédaction de sa thèse fut une tâche laborieuse. (Writing his thesis was a laborious task.)* Elle est connue pour son esprit laborieux. (She is known for her industrious mind.)* Le déménagement a été très laborieux. (The move was very painstaking/arduous.)* Ce travail demande un effort laborieux. (This work requires a painstaking effort.)

1. The 'complex' – complexe

In French, the word complexe primarily functions as an adjective, meaning 'complex' or 'complicated.' It describes something that is intricate, difficult to understand, or involves many interconnected parts.

As an adjective, complexe is invariable in form, meaning it does not change for gender (masculine or feminine) but does change for number (singular or plural). For example, un problème complexe (a complex problem) and une situation complexe (a complex situation). In the plural, it becomes complexes: des problèmes complexes.

Beyond its adjectival use, complexe can also be used as a masculine noun, un complexe, to refer to a psychological 'complex' or an 'insecurity.' This usage is very common, often implying a feeling of inferiority or self-consciousness about a particular aspect.

A frequent expression is 'avoir un complexe (de...)*', meaning 'to have a complex (about...)' or 'to be self-conscious (about...).' For instance, il a un complexe d'infériorité (he has an inferiority complex) or elle a un complexe sur son nez (she has a complex about her nose).

💡 * C'est un problème très complexe à résoudre. (It's a very complex problem to solve.)

La situation économique est devenue complexe. (The economic situation has become complicated.)

Il a un complexe d'infériorité depuis son enfance. (He has had an inferiority complex since childhood.)

Beaucoup de jeunes ont des complexes sur leur apparence. (Many young people have complexes about their appearance.)

Elle n'a aucun complexe à parler en public. (She has no hang-ups/insecurity about speaking in public.)

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to say “difficult” in French. But the French language is rich with nuance, and there are many other terms, from formal ones to informal slang, that express varying degrees of difficulty.

You can also do an online search for “comment dire difficile en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region to discover local expressions.

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

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about challenging situations or tasks.

And if you’re looking for a comprehensive list of synonyms for difficile, the WordReference entry for difficile is an excellent place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful in navigating the nuances of 'difficult' in French. Here’s a fitting quote from Victor Hugo to inspire you: Les grandes difficultés, les grands obstacles, sont des tremplins pour les grandes victoires. (Great difficulties, great obstacles, are springboards for great victories.)

9 ways to say "difficult" in French