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B1 noun 12 دقيقة للقراءة

avec difficulté

تدرّب عليها أمثلة ملاحظات ونصائح avec difficulté في 30 ثانية

الشرح avec difficulté in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just beginning to learn how to describe things. You probably know the word 'difficile' (difficult). For example, you might say 'Le français est difficile.' At this stage, 'avec difficulté' is a bit advanced, but you can understand it as 'avec' (with) + 'difficulté' (difficulty). It is used to describe how someone does something. If a baby is learning to walk, you might say 'Le bébé marche avec difficulté.' It is a simple way to add more detail to your sentences. Instead of just saying 'C'est difficile,' you can describe the action. Remember, there is no 'le' or 'la' between 'avec' and 'difficulté'. Just two words. This is a fixed phrase. At A1, you should focus on recognizing it when you hear it. You will hear it in simple stories or when people talk about their health. It is a very useful phrase because it helps you move from simple 'subject + verb + adjective' sentences to more complex ones that describe the 'manner' of an action. Even at this early stage, knowing 'avec difficulté' helps you sound more natural than if you only used the word 'difficile'.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the A2 level, you can start using 'avec difficulté' in your own sentences. You are now able to talk about your daily life and past experiences. You might use this phrase to talk about a task at work or a physical activity. For example: 'Hier, j'ai couru 10 kilomètres avec difficulté.' This shows that you are moving beyond basic descriptions. You should also notice the difference between 'avec difficulté' and 'facilement' (easily). These are opposites. At A2, you are learning more 'adverbial phrases.' Many of these start with 'avec,' like 'avec patience' (patiently) or 'avec plaisir' (with pleasure). 'Avec difficulté' follows this same pattern. You don't need to change the word 'difficulté' even if the subject is plural. It always stays the same. You might also encounter this phrase in simple news articles or weather reports (e.g., 'La circulation se fait avec difficulté à cause de la neige'). It is a good phrase to use when you want to explain why something took a long time or why you are tired. It gives more context to your actions and helps you express a wider range of meanings in your conversations with native speakers.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

As a B1 learner, you are expected to handle more complex situations and express opinions. 'Avec difficulté' is a key phrase for this level. You should be able to use it to describe not just physical actions, but also abstract concepts. For example, 'Il a accepté la critique avec difficulté.' This shows a higher level of emotional vocabulary. At B1, you should also understand the nuance between 'avec difficulté' and its synonym 'difficilement.' While they often mean the same thing, 'avec difficulté' is slightly more formal and emphasizes the 'weight' of the effort. You might also start to see 'avec une grande difficulté.' Notice that when you add an adjective like 'grande,' you must add the article 'une.' This is a common point for B1 grammar tests. You are also likely to hear this phrase in professional contexts. If a project is not going well, a colleague might say, 'Le projet avance avec difficulté.' This is a polite but clear way to signal problems. Using this phrase helps you sound more professional and precise. It is also common in B1-level reading materials, such as short stories or magazine articles, where authors use it to create a sense of tension or to describe a character's internal struggle.

At the B2 level, you should have a firm grasp of 'avec difficulté' and be able to use it fluently in various registers. You can use it in formal essays to describe social or historical processes. For instance, 'La démocratie s'est installée avec difficulté dans ce pays.' This shows you can apply the phrase to complex, abstract subjects. You should also be aware of more sophisticated synonyms like 'péniblement' or 'à grand-peine' and know when to choose 'avec difficulté' over them. 'Avec difficulté' is neutral and versatile, making it a safe and effective choice for most professional and academic writing. You should also be comfortable with the word order, even in complex sentences with multiple clauses. For example, 'Bien qu'il ait étudié pendant des mois, il a répondu aux questions de l'examinateur avec difficulté.' At B2, you are expected to notice the subtle difference in meaning when 'difficulté' is pluralized in other contexts, but you should remain consistent in using the singular for this specific adverbial phrase. You will encounter this expression in more advanced media, like political debates or philosophical texts, where it is used to describe the friction inherent in change or the challenges of human communication.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

For C1 learners, 'avec difficulté' is a basic tool that you use with complete ease, but you should now focus on the stylistic impact of the phrase. You might use it at the beginning of a sentence for dramatic effect: 'Avec difficulté, il parvint enfin au sommet.' This inversion is a hallmark of advanced literary style. You should also be able to distinguish between 'avec difficulté' and 'avec des difficultés.' The former describes the manner of an action, while the latter often refers to specific, countable obstacles (e.g., 'Il a terminé son parcours avec des difficultés techniques'). At C1, you should also be aware of the historical and etymological roots of the phrase, understanding how it fits into the broader system of French adverbials. You might use it in legal or medical translations where precision is paramount. For example, in a medical report, 'respirer avec difficulté' has a specific clinical meaning (dyspnea). You should also be able to use the phrase in ironical or sarcastic contexts, common in high-level French conversation. 'Il a admis son erreur avec difficulté, comme on pouvait s'y attendre.' This level of nuance shows that you not only understand the meaning but also the social and rhetorical functions of the expression.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the C2 level, 'avec difficulté' is part of your intuitive linguistic repertoire. You use it without thinking, but you can also analyze its role in the rhythm and flow of a sentence. You might choose it over 'difficilement' specifically for its phonetic qualities—the way the hard 'c' and 'd' sounds can mimic the 'hardness' of the action being described. In high-level literary analysis or philosophical discourse, you might explore the concept of 'agir avec difficulté' as a fundamental human condition. You are comfortable using it in the most formal settings, such as a speech at a conference or a formal letter to a government official. You also understand its place in the history of the French language, recognizing it in texts from the 17th century to the present day. You can effortlessly switch between 'avec difficulté' and its many synonyms (laborieusement, péniblement, à grand-peine, au prix d'efforts soutenus) to achieve the exact tone and nuance you desire. Your mastery of this phrase is not just about grammar or vocabulary, but about using it as a precise instrument to convey the subtle textures of effort, resistance, and perseverance in any context imaginable.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

تدرّب عليها أمثلة ملاحظات ونصائح

avec difficulté في 30 ثانية

Means 'with difficulty' or 'hardly'.
Functions as an adverbial phrase following a verb.
Used for both physical and mental struggles.
Common in all levels of French, from casual to formal.

The French expression avec difficulté is a prepositional phrase that functions as an adverbial of manner. In English, it translates directly to 'with difficulty' or 'hardly.' It is composed of the preposition avec (with) and the noun difficulté (difficulty). While the word 'difficulté' itself is a noun, when paired with 'avec,' it describes how an action is performed. This expression is fundamental for French learners because it allows for a more nuanced description of effort than the simple adjective difficile.

Grammatical Role: It functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb to indicate that the action requires significant physical or mental effort.

Usage of this phrase is ubiquitous across all registers of French, from formal literature to casual conversation. For instance, a doctor might say a patient breathes avec difficulté, or a student might admit they finished a math problem avec difficulté. It implies a struggle, a barrier, or a lack of ease. Unlike the adverb difficilement, which can sometimes mean 'barely' or 'scarcely,' avec difficulté almost always emphasizes the weight of the effort involved.

Le vieil homme montait les escaliers avec difficulté.

In this example, the focus is on the physical strain. The phrase is also used metaphorically. One can accept a decision avec difficulté, meaning they struggled emotionally or intellectually to come to terms with it. It suggests a process that was not smooth. In French culture, expressing effort is often viewed with respect; showing that something was done avec difficulté can highlight the perseverance of the subject. It is also common in sports commentary to describe a team winning avec difficulté, suggesting a hard-fought victory.

Register Variation: While 'difficilement' is more common in fast speech, 'avec difficulté' is preferred in written reports or when the speaker wants to be more descriptive.

Historically, the term 'difficulté' comes from the Latin 'difficultas,' which implies a 'hardship' or 'affliction.' Thus, 'avec difficulté' carries a historical weight of overcoming a burden.

Elle a avoué la vérité avec difficulté.

This illustrates the psychological barrier. In the business world, a project might proceed avec difficulté due to budget cuts. In every context, it signals to the listener that the path taken was not the path of least resistance. Finally, it is important to note that 'avec difficulté' is often contrasted with 'avec facilité' (with ease). These two phrases form a binary pair that helps learners describe the spectrum of effort in any given task. Whether you are talking about learning a new language, climbing a mountain, or understanding a complex legal document, 'avec difficulté' is the essential tool for communicating that the task was a challenge.

Using avec difficulté correctly requires understanding its placement within a French sentence. Typically, as an adverbial phrase, it follows the verb it modifies. For example, 'Il marche avec difficulté.' If the verb has a direct object, the phrase usually comes after the object: 'Il soulève ce poids avec difficulté.'

Standard Placement: Verb + (Object) + avec difficulté. This is the most common and natural structure for both spoken and written French.

In compound tenses like the passé composé, the phrase usually follows the past participle. 'J'ai compris la leçon avec difficulté.' Placing it between the auxiliary and the participle is generally avoided, unlike short adverbs like 'bien' or 'mal.'

Nous avons terminé le projet avec difficulté avant la date limite.

This sentence highlights the struggle against time. You can also use intensifiers with this phrase. For instance, 'avec beaucoup de difficulté' or 'avec une grande difficulté.' Note that when you add an adjective like 'grande,' you must include the indefinite article 'une.' This is a subtle point that separates intermediate learners from advanced speakers. Another common structure involves using 'avec difficulté' at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis, though this is more frequent in literary or formal contexts. 'Avec difficulté, il se leva de son fauteuil.' This puts the focus immediately on the struggle.

Negative Sentences: In negative sentences, 'avec difficulté' remains at the end. 'Je ne vois pas avec difficulté' (I don't see with difficulty), though it is more common to say 'Je vois sans difficulté'.

When comparing 'avec difficulté' with 'difficilement,' remember that 'difficilement' can sometimes modify adjectives (e.g., 'C'est difficilement acceptable'), whereas 'avec difficulté' almost exclusively modifies verbs.

Le moteur de la vieille voiture démarre avec difficulté chaque matin.

This example shows a mechanical struggle. In academic writing, you might use 'avec difficulté' to describe the interpretation of a text: 'Ce passage se lit avec difficulté en raison de son style archaïque.' Furthermore, 'avec difficulté' is often used in the plural 'avec des difficultés' when referring to multiple specific problems or obstacles. 'Il a fini son travail avec des difficultés financières.' However, the singular 'avec difficulté' is the standard way to describe the 'way' something is done.

L'enfant a appris à lacer ses chaussures avec difficulté.

This highlights the learning curve. In summary, 'avec difficulté' is a versatile and essential phrase that follows the verb, can be intensified with adjectives (requiring an article), and provides a vivid description of the effort required for an action.

The phrase avec difficulté is a staple of everyday French life, appearing in contexts ranging from the mundane to the highly formal. One of the most common places to hear it is in medical or health-related discussions. A pharmacist might ask if you are breathing avec difficulté, or a therapist might note that a patient expresses their emotions avec difficulté.

Medical Context: Used to describe symptoms like shortness of breath (respirer avec difficulté) or impaired mobility.

You will also frequently encounter this phrase in the news and media. Journalists use it to describe political negotiations that are stalling or moving slowly. 'Les deux parties sont parvenues à un accord avec difficulté.' This implies that the agreement was not easy and involved significant compromise.

Le gouvernement a fait adopter la loi avec difficulté après des semaines de débats.

In the world of sports, commentators use 'avec difficulté' to add drama to a match. If a tennis player wins a set 7-6, they won avec difficulté. It conveys the intensity of the competition. In educational settings, teachers use this phrase in report cards. A student might read avec difficulté, which is a signal to parents that extra help is needed. It's more formal and precise than just saying 'c'est dur.'

Literature and Cinema: Authors use it to set a mood of tension or physical strain. In a movie script, it might be a stage direction for an actor: 'Il parle avec difficulté'.

You might also hear it in technical or mechanical contexts. If a machine is old and struggling, a technician will say it functions avec difficulté.

La connexion internet fonctionne avec difficulté à cause de l'orage.

This is a common frustration in the modern world. In legal settings, a witness might be described as answering questions avec difficulté, suggesting hesitation or emotional distress. Finally, in personal anecdotes, people use it to describe their own life challenges. 'J'ai fini mon marathon avec difficulté, mais je l'ai fini !' Here, it serves as a badge of honor. Whether you're reading a classic novel by Victor Hugo or listening to a podcast about modern technology, avec difficulté will appear as the go-to expression for describing the friction of existence.

Even for intermediate learners, the phrase avec difficulté can be a source of errors. The most frequent mistake is the incorrect use of articles. Many learners instinctively want to say 'avec la difficulté' or 'avec une difficulté' because they know 'difficulté' is a noun. However, in this fixed adverbial expression, no article is used. It is strictly avec difficulté.

Article Error: Incorrect: 'Il parle avec la difficulté.' Correct: 'Il parle avec difficulté.'

Another common error is confusing avec difficulté with the adjective difficile. A learner might say 'Il marche avec difficile,' which is grammatically incorrect because 'difficile' is an adjective and cannot follow the preposition 'avec' in this context. You must use the noun form.

Correct: Il a réussi avec difficulté. Incorrect: Il a réussi avec difficile.

Confusion with the adverb difficilement is also prevalent. While they are often interchangeable, 'difficilement' has a second meaning of 'hardly' or 'scarcely.' For example, 'Je peux difficilement imaginer cela' means 'I can hardly imagine that.' In this specific sense, 'avec difficulté' would sound slightly awkward. Spelling is another area where mistakes occur. English speakers often forget the accent on the 'é' in difficulté or try to spell it like the English word 'difficulty' with a 'y' at the end. In French, it always ends in -é.

Spelling Note: Always include the 'é' at the end. 'Difficulté' is not 'difficulté' without its accent!

Placement errors are also common. Learners sometimes place 'avec difficulté' before the verb, modeled on English 'He with difficulty climbed the stairs.' In French, this is very rare and usually reserved for poetic emphasis. The standard position is after the verb.

Incorrect: Il avec difficulté est monté. Correct: Il est monté avec difficulté.

Furthermore, some learners try to pluralize it without reason, saying 'avec difficultés' when they mean the general manner of 'with difficulty.' While 'avec des difficultés' is correct for specific problems, 'avec difficulté' is the standard adverbial. Lastly, don't confuse 'avec difficulté' with 'à grand-peine.' While they mean the same thing, 'à grand-peine' is much more formal and literary. Using it in a casual conversation about a video game might sound a bit over-the-top. Stick to 'avec difficulté' for a natural, B1-level fluency.

To sound more like a native speaker, it is helpful to know synonyms and alternatives for avec difficulté. The most direct synonym is the adverb difficilement. As discussed, it is often interchangeable, especially when describing physical actions. However, 'difficilement' is a single word, making it slightly more efficient in rapid speech.

Péniblement: This word adds a layer of 'pain' or 'suffering' (from the word 'peine'). Use it when the difficulty was not just hard, but exhausting or distressing. 'Il avançait péniblement dans la neige.'

A more formal and expressive alternative is à grand-peine. This literally means 'with great pain/effort.' It is frequently found in literature and formal reports. It conveys a sense of heroic or extreme struggle.

Le navire a atteint le port à grand-peine après la tempête.

Another useful phrase is non sans mal. This is a common idiomatic expression that literally means 'not without harm/trouble.' It is a bit more conversational and slightly understated. 'J'ai fini ce rapport, non sans mal !' (I finished this report, not without some trouble!). For intellectual or creative work, you might use laborieusement. This comes from 'labeur' (labor) and implies that the work was slow, tedious, and required a lot of grinding effort. 'Il a rédigé sa thèse laborieusement.'

Dans la douleur: Literally 'in pain.' Used metaphorically in sports or business to describe a victory or achievement that was extremely hard-won. 'Ils ont gagné dans la douleur.'

If you want to emphasize that something was barely achieved, you can use de justesse (just barely). While not a direct synonym for 'difficulty,' it often describes the result of a difficult process. 'Il a réussi son examen de justesse.'

Il a gravi la montagne au prix de mille efforts.

This last one, 'au prix de mille efforts,' is very descriptive and common in storytelling. It means 'at the cost of a thousand efforts.' Finally, the opposite of 'avec difficulté' is avec facilité or aisément. Knowing these antonyms helps you frame your sentences better. By expanding your vocabulary beyond just 'avec difficulté,' you can describe the exact nature of the struggle, whether it was painful, tedious, or just barely successful.

How Formal Is It?

حقيقة ممتعة

The English word 'difficulty' was actually borrowed from the French 'difficulté' in the late 14th century. Before that, English used words like 'hardness' or 'difficulty' in its Latin form.

دليل النطق

UK /a.vɛk di.fi.kyl.te/

US /a.vɛk dɪ.fi.kʊl.teɪ/

Stress is even across syllables, with a slight rise on the final 'té'.

يتقافى مع

santé liberté été volonté beauté clarté fierté côté

أخطاء شائعة

Pronouncing the 'u' like 'oo' (doof-ee-cool-tay).
Forgetting the final 'é' sound and making it silent.
Putting too much stress on 'avec' instead of the noun.
Pronouncing the 't' in 'avec' (it is usually silent unless followed by a vowel, but here it is often pronounced clearly before the 'd').
Mumbling the 'di-fi' syllables together.

مستوى الصعوبة

القراءة 2/5

Very easy to recognize as it mirrors the English structure.

الكتابة 3/5

Learners must remember to omit the article 'la'.

التحدث 3/5

The 'u' in difficulté can be tricky for English speakers.

الاستماع 2/5

Clear and distinct syllables make it easy to hear.

ماذا تتعلّم بعد ذلك

المتطلبات الأساسية

avec difficile facile travail faire

تعلّم لاحقاً

difficilement péniblement à grand-peine sans difficulté malgré

متقدم

laborieusement fastidieux ardument insurmontable embûche

قواعد يجب معرفتها

Adverbial phrases with 'avec'

On utilise 'avec' + nom sans article pour former des adverbes (avec soin, avec patience, avec difficulté).

Placement of Adverbs

L'adverbe se place généralement après le verbe conjugué (Il court avec difficulté).

Adjectives modifying nouns in adverbial phrases

Si on ajoute un adjectif, on ajoute l'article (Il a réussi avec une grande difficulté).

Passé Composé Word Order

Dans les temps composés, l'adverbe long se place après le participe passé (Il a fini avec difficulté).

Difference between 'difficilement' and 'avec difficulté'

'Difficilement' peut signifier 'hardly', alors que 'avec difficulté' souligne l'effort.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

أمثلة حسب المستوى

Il marche avec difficulté.

He walks with difficulty.

Simple subject + verb + adverbial phrase.

Je parle français avec difficulté.

I speak French with difficulty.

No article between 'avec' and 'difficulté'.

Le bébé mange avec difficulté.

The baby eats with difficulty.

Describes the manner of eating.

Elle écrit avec difficulté.

She writes with difficulty.

Standard placement after the verb.

Tu lis avec difficulté ?

Do you read with difficulty?

Question form using intonation.

Le chat grimpe avec difficulté.

The cat climbs with difficulty.

Action verb + manner phrase.

Nous travaillons avec difficulté.

We work with difficulty.

Plural subject, singular phrase.

Il voit avec difficulté.

He sees with difficulty.

Verb of perception + manner.

J'ai fini mes devoirs avec difficulté.

I finished my homework with difficulty.

Passé composé: phrase follows the past participle.

Elle a ouvert la porte avec difficulté.

She opened the door with difficulty.

Verb + Object + Adverbial phrase.

Le train avance avec difficulté sous la neige.

The train moves with difficulty in the snow.

Describing a slow process.

Il respire avec difficulté après la course.

He breathes with difficulty after the race.

Medical/physical context.

Nous avons trouvé la maison avec difficulté.

We found the house with difficulty.

Expressing a struggle to find something.

Elle a appris à nager avec difficulté.

She learned to swim with difficulty.

Learning a skill.

Le moteur démarre avec difficulté ce matin.

The engine starts with difficulty this morning.

Mechanical context.

Ils ont gagné le match avec difficulté.

They won the match with difficulty.

Sports context.

Il a accepté son échec avec difficulté.

He accepted his failure with difficulty.

Metaphorical/emotional use.

La réunion s'est déroulée avec difficulté.

The meeting took place with difficulty.

Pronominal verb + manner phrase.

Elle s'exprime avec difficulté en public.

She expresses herself with difficulty in public.

Describing a social challenge.

Le projet a été terminé avec difficulté.

The project was finished with difficulty.

Passive voice usage.

J'ai compris ce texte philosophique avec difficulté.

I understood this philosophical text with difficulty.

Intellectual struggle.

Ils ont gravi la montagne avec difficulté.

They climbed the mountain with difficulty.

Physical exertion.

La loi a été votée avec difficulté par le parlement.

The law was voted on with difficulty by parliament.

Formal/political context.

Il a retrouvé son chemin avec difficulté dans le brouillard.

He found his way with difficulty in the fog.

Adverbial phrase + prepositional phrase of place.

L'entreprise a survécu à la crise avec difficulté.

The company survived the crisis with difficulty.

Economic/Business context.

Le témoin a répondu aux questions avec difficulté.

The witness answered the questions with difficulty.

Legal context.

Les négociations progressent avec difficulté.

Negotiations are progressing with difficulty.

Present tense describing an ongoing process.

Il a dû admettre ses torts avec difficulté.

He had to admit his wrongs with difficulty.

Modal verb 'devoir' + infinitive.

Le patient bouge son bras avec difficulté.

The patient moves his arm with difficulty.

Precise medical description.

La transition vers le numérique se fait avec difficulté.

The transition to digital is happening with difficulty.

Describing a systemic change.

Elle a maintenu son équilibre avec difficulté.

She maintained her balance with difficulty.

Physical precision.

L'auteur a achevé son roman avec difficulté.

The author finished his novel with difficulty.

Creative struggle.

Avec difficulté, il parvint à dissimuler sa surprise.

With difficulty, he managed to hide his surprise.

Inversion for literary emphasis.

La vérité a émergé avec difficulté des témoignages contradictoires.

The truth emerged with difficulty from the contradictory testimonies.

Abstract subject 'la vérité'.

Il s'est extirpé de cette situation avec difficulté.

He extracted himself from this situation with difficulty.

Pronominal verb 's'extirper'.

Ce vieux manuscrit se déchiffre avec difficulté.

This old manuscript is deciphered with difficulty.

Passive pronominal construction.

Il a contenu sa colère avec difficulté pendant le dîner.

He contained his anger with difficulty during dinner.

Emotional restraint.

La paix a été rétablie avec difficulté dans la région.

Peace was restored with difficulty in the region.

Geopolitical context.

Il a gravi les échelons sociaux avec difficulté.

He climbed the social ladder with difficulty.

Metaphorical ladder.

Le dialogue a été renoué avec difficulté après des années de silence.

Dialogue was resumed with difficulty after years of silence.

Resumption of a process.

L'harmonie fut retrouvée avec difficulté, au prix de lourds sacrifices.

Harmony was found again with difficulty, at the cost of heavy sacrifices.

Passé simple + complex adverbial structure.

On discerne avec difficulté les contours de sa pensée dans cet essai.

One discerns with difficulty the contours of his thought in this essay.

Indefinite subject 'on' + abstract object.

L'édifice, bien qu'ébranlé, se maintient avec difficulté.

The building, although shaken, maintains itself with difficulty.

Concessive clause + pronominal verb.

Il a articulé sa défense avec difficulté devant le conseil.

He articulated his defense with difficulty before the council.

Formal rhetoric.

La lumière filtrait avec difficulté à travers les volets clos.

Light filtered with difficulty through the closed shutters.

Poetic/Descriptive usage.

Il a porté ce secret avec difficulté toute sa vie durant.

He carried this secret with difficulty throughout his whole life.

Temporal expression 'toute sa vie durant'.

Le sens de la vie se laisse appréhender avec difficulté par l'esprit humain.

The meaning of life lets itself be grasped with difficulty by the human mind.

Complex 'se laisser' + infinitive construction.

Cette œuvre magistrale fut enfantée avec difficulté par son créateur.

This masterful work was brought forth with difficulty by its creator.

Metaphorical use of 'enfanter'.

تلازمات شائعة

respirer avec difficulté

marcher avec difficulté

s'exprimer avec difficulté

gagner avec difficulté

apprendre avec difficulté

admettre avec difficulté

progresser avec difficulté

lire avec difficulté

entendre avec difficulté

finir avec difficulté

العبارات الشائعة

éprouver de la difficulté

— To experience difficulty. Used as a verbal phrase rather than an adverbial.

J'éprouve de la difficulté à comprendre ce point.

sans aucune difficulté

— Without any difficulty at all. The absolute opposite of the phrase.

Il a réussi sans aucune difficulté.

avec une grande difficulté

— With great difficulty. Note the addition of the article 'une'.

Il a soulevé le carton avec une grande difficulté.

avoir des difficultés

— To have difficulties. Focuses on the presence of problems.

Il a des difficultés en mathématiques.

faire des difficultés

— To raise objections or make things complicated.

N'allez pas faire des difficultés pour un détail !

vaincre les difficultés

— To overcome difficulties. A positive, proactive expression.

Il a su vaincre les difficultés de la vie.

en difficulté

— In trouble or in a difficult situation.

Cette entreprise est en difficulté financière.

la difficulté d'être

— The difficulty of being. A famous literary/philosophical concept.

Il explore la difficulté d'être dans son poème.

quelle difficulté !

— What a struggle! An exclamation used when something is hard.

Quelle difficulté pour garer la voiture !

surmonter une difficulté

— To surmount or get over a specific difficulty.

Elle a surmonté cette difficulté avec courage.

يُخلط عادةً مع

avec difficulté vs difficile

Difficile is an adjective (it's hard), while avec difficulté is how you do something.

avec difficulté vs difficilement

Mostly synonyms, but difficilement can also mean 'hardly' (probability).

avec difficulté vs avec des difficultés

Refers to specific problems rather than the general manner of struggle.

تعبيرات اصطلاحية

"accoucher d'une souris"

— To put in a lot of effort for a very small result. Often used when a project 'avec difficulté' yields little.

Après des mois de travail avec difficulté, ils ont accouché d'une souris.

Informal

"ramer"

— Literally 'to row'. Used slangily to mean struggling hard to do something.

Il rame avec difficulté pour finir son projet.

Slang

"en baver"

— To go through hell or struggle immensely.

Il en a bavé avec difficulté pour obtenir ce diplôme.

Slang

"suer sang et eau"

— To sweat blood and water. To work extremely hard with great difficulty.

Il a sué sang et eau pour construire sa maison.

Expressive

"se casser les dents"

— To fail or struggle greatly against an obstacle.

Il s'est cassé les dents avec difficulté sur ce problème.

Informal

"avoir du pain sur la planche"

— To have a lot of work/difficulty ahead.

Nous avons du pain sur la planche pour finir avec difficulté.

Neutral

"faire le forcing"

— To push through with difficulty using force or intense effort.

Il a fait le forcing pour passer la frontière.

Informal

"être au bout du rouleau"

— To be at the end of one's rope due to constant difficulty.

Il avance avec difficulté car il est au bout du rouleau.

Informal

"parcourir un chemin de croix"

— To go through an ordeal or a very difficult process.

Son rétablissement a été un vrai chemin de croix avec difficulté.

Literary/Metaphorical

"mettre des bâtons dans les roues"

— To put spokes in someone's wheels (to create difficulty).

On lui met des bâtons dans les roues, il avance donc avec difficulté.

Informal

سهل الخلط

avec difficulté vs difficile

Both relate to the concept of difficulty.

Difficile is an adjective modifying a noun; avec difficulté is an adverbial phrase modifying a verb.

C'est un livre difficile. (Adjective) / Il lit ce livre avec difficulté. (Adverbial)

avec difficulté vs difficilement

They are often used as synonyms.

Difficilement is a single word adverb. Avec difficulté is a phrase. Difficilement can mean 'hardly' in terms of possibility.

Je peux difficilement venir. (Hardly possible) / Il marche avec difficulté. (With physical effort)

avec difficulté vs peine

Both can mean struggle.

Peine often refers to sorrow or a more intense, painful struggle. Avec difficulté is more neutral.

Il a de la peine. (He is sad) / Il a fini avec difficulté. (He struggled to finish)

avec difficulté vs mal

Used in 'avoir du mal à'.

Avoir du mal à + infinitive is a verbal construction; avec difficulté is an adverbial phrase.

J'ai du mal à comprendre. / Je comprends avec difficulté.

avec difficulté vs dur

Dur means hard.

Dur is an adjective or a casual adverb. Avec difficulté is more formal and precise.

C'est dur ! / C'est fait avec difficulté.

أنماط الجُمل

Sujet + Verbe + avec difficulté

Je marche avec difficulté.

Sujet + Verbe au passé + avec difficulté

Il a mangé avec difficulté.

Sujet + Verbe + Objet + avec difficulté

Elle a fini son travail avec difficulté.

Sujet + Verbe + avec une [Adjectif] difficulté

Il a parlé avec une grande difficulté.

Sujet + Verbe pronominal + avec difficulté

Il s'est exprimé avec difficulté.

Avec difficulté, + Sujet + Verbe

Avec difficulté, il ouvrit les yeux.

Sujet + Verbe + avec difficulté + Complément

Il a progressé avec difficulté dans la jungle.

Sujet + Verbe au passif + avec difficulté

L'accord fut conclu avec difficulté.

عائلة الكلمة

الأسماء

difficulté (difficulty)

difficile (difficult thing/difficulty)

الأفعال

difficulté (not a verb, but 'difficulter' is an archaic/rare form; use 'rendre difficile')

الصفات

difficile (difficult)

difficilis (Latin root)

مرتبط

facilité

peine

effort

épreuve

obstacle

سجّل مجاناً لرؤية جميع الأمثلة

كيفية الاستخدام

frequency

Common in both spoken and written French.

أخطاء شائعة

Il parle avec la difficulté. → Il parle avec difficulté.
Fixed adverbial phrases with 'avec' typically do not use an article for abstract nouns.
Il marche avec difficile. → Il marche avec difficulté.
You cannot use an adjective (difficile) after a preposition (avec) to form an adverbial phrase; you must use the noun.
Il avec difficulté a fini. → Il a fini avec difficulté.
In French, adverbial phrases of manner almost always follow the verb or the past participle.
J'ai réussi avec difficulté grande. → J'ai réussi avec une grande difficulté.
If you add an adjective to 'difficulté', you must include the indefinite article 'une'.
Il respire avec difficulté. → Il respire avec difficulté.
Note: Some learners forget the accent on the 'é', which is required for correct spelling and pronunciation.

نصائح

No Article Needed

Remember that 'avec difficulté' is a fixed phrase. Don't add 'la' or 'une' before 'difficulté' unless you are also adding an adjective to describe the difficulty.

The French 'U'

The 'u' in 'difficulté' is the most important part to get right. Shape your lips as if to whistle and say 'ee'. This will give you the perfect French 'u' sound.

Placement is Key

Always place 'avec difficulté' after the verb or the object. Placing it before the verb sounds like a direct translation from English and is usually incorrect in French.

Synonym Variety

While 'avec difficulté' is great, try using 'péniblement' for physical exhaustion or 'non sans mal' in casual conversation to sound more like a native speaker.

Medical Contexts

If you are in a French-speaking hospital, 'avec difficulté' is the standard way to describe symptoms like trouble breathing or moving. It is clear and clinical.

Emphasis

For dramatic effect in writing, you can start a sentence with 'Avec difficulté, ...'. This highlights the effort before the action even happens.

Difficile vs. Difficulté

Never say 'avec difficile'. 'Difficile' is an adjective. You must use the noun 'difficulté' after the preposition 'avec'.

The 'Avec' Family

Group 'avec difficulté' with other 'avec' phrases like 'avec plaisir', 'avec soin', and 'avec patience'. This helps you remember the 'no article' rule.

Listen for the Accent

Pay close attention to the final 'é'. In French, this accent changes the sound and is essential for being understood.

Valorizing Effort

Don't be afraid to say you did something 'avec difficulté'. In French culture, it often shows that you are a hard worker and persistent.

احفظها

وسيلة تذكّر

Think of 'AVEC' as 'A Very Exhausting Challenge' (Difficulté). If you are doing something AVEC DIFFICULTY, you are facing a challenge.

ربط بصري

Imagine a person trying to push a giant boulder up a steep hill. Underneath the image, write 'Il pousse le rocher avec difficulté'.

Word Web

effort peine travail obstacle résistance labeur épreuve défi

تحدٍّ

Try to describe three things you did today 'avec difficulté' (e.g., waking up, finishing a report, or exercise) and three things you did 'facilement'.

أصل الكلمة

From the French preposition 'avec' (derived from Vulgar Latin 'apud hoc') and the noun 'difficulté' (from Latin 'difficultas'). The Latin root 'difficultas' is built from 'difficilis', where 'dis-' means 'not' and 'facilis' means 'easy'.

المعنى الأصلي: The state of being hard to do or accomplish; a condition of hardship.

Romance (Latin-based).

السياق الثقافي

Be careful when using this to describe people with disabilities; in medical contexts it is clinical, but in social contexts, ensure the tone is respectful.

English speakers often use 'hardly' or 'with difficulty' interchangeably, but in French, 'avec difficulté' is slightly more common for physical tasks than 'hardly'.

Victor Hugo's 'Les Misérables' (describing Valjean's physical struggles). The film 'Le Scaphandre et le Papillon' (describing the difficulty of communicating). Albert Camus's essays on the 'Sisyphus' myth.

تدرّب في الحياة الواقعية

سياقات واقعية

Health and Medicine

respirer avec difficulté
marcher avec difficulté
avaler avec difficulté
se lever avec difficulté

Education and Learning

lire avec difficulté
comprendre avec difficulté
écrire avec difficulté
apprendre avec difficulté

Professional Life

négocier avec difficulté
terminer avec difficulté
progresser avec difficulté
gérer avec difficulté

Emotions and Relationships

accepter avec difficulté
pardonner avec difficulté
avouer avec difficulté
parler avec difficulté

Sports and Physical Activity

gagner avec difficulté
finir avec difficulté
grimper avec difficulté
courir avec difficulté

بدايات محادثة

"As-tu déjà fini un projet avec difficulté ?"

"Quel sport trouves-tu qu'on pratique avec difficulté au début ?"

"Est-ce que tu as appris le français avec difficulté ou facilement ?"

"Qu'est-ce que tu as réussi à faire avec difficulté récemment ?"

"Est-ce qu'il est possible de pardonner avec difficulté ?"

مواضيع للكتابة اليومية

Décris une fois où tu as dû marcher avec difficulté dans la nature.

Raconte un souvenir d'école où tu as compris une leçon avec difficulté.

Pourquoi est-il parfois satisfaisant de réussir quelque chose avec difficulté ?

Écris sur un personnage qui doit s'exprimer avec difficulté devant une foule.

Penses-tu que les meilleures choses dans la vie s'obtiennent avec difficulté ?

الأسئلة الشائعة

10 أسئلة

You should always say 'avec difficulté'. In French, many adverbial phrases using 'avec' omit the article when the noun is abstract. Examples include 'avec patience', 'avec courage', and 'avec soin'. Adding 'la' would be a grammatical error in this context.

Not exactly. While it can mean 'with difficulty,' it doesn't mean 'scarcely' in the way 'hardly' does in English (e.g., 'I hardly know him'). For that meaning, use 'presque pas' or 'à peine'. 'Avec difficulté' always implies a physical or mental struggle.

In many cases, they are interchangeable. However, 'avec difficulté' is slightly more formal and descriptive of the 'manner'. 'Difficilement' is more common in speech and can also mean 'unlikely' or 'hardly' (e.g., 'C'est difficilement croyable').

The noun 'difficulté' is feminine. However, because the phrase is fixed and lacks an article, the gender doesn't change the form of the phrase itself. If you add an adjective, use the feminine: 'avec une grande difficulté'.

You don't pluralize the fixed phrase 'avec difficulté' when it describes the manner of an action. If you want to say someone had multiple specific problems, you would say 'avec des difficultés', but that is a different grammatical construction.

It almost always goes after the verb it is describing. For example, 'Il court avec difficulté'. If there is a direct object, it goes after the object: 'Il soulève ce sac avec difficulté'. In compound tenses, it follows the past participle.

Yes, it is very common. While slang terms like 'galérer' are used by young people, 'avec difficulté' remains the standard, correct way to express struggle in all social and professional settings.

Absolutely. You can say 'J'ai compris cette règle avec difficulté' or 'Il a pris sa décision avec difficulté'. It is not limited to physical actions.

The most common opposites are 'avec facilité' (with ease), 'facilement' (easily), or 'sans difficulté' (without difficulty).

Yes, you can use 'à grand-peine' or 'péniblement'. These are often found in literature and convey a stronger sense of struggle or exhaustion.

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