Meaning
Describing an action that requires a lot of effort or is hard to achieve.
Cultural Background
In Spain, people often use 'con dificultad' in formal contexts to avoid sounding overly dramatic about their struggles. Mexicans often prefer 'me costó trabajo' over 'con dificultad' in casual speech, as it sounds more personal. Argentines might use 'a duras penas' to emphasize the struggle even more than 'con dificultad'. In professional Colombian settings, 'con dificultad' is a standard way to report issues without blaming individuals.
Focus on the noun
Remember that 'dificultad' is a noun. You are saying 'with [the] difficulty'.
Don't use 'difícil'
Never say 'con difícil'. It is a common mistake that sounds very wrong to native speakers.
Meaning
Describing an action that requires a lot of effort or is hard to achieve.
Focus on the noun
Remember that 'dificultad' is a noun. You are saying 'with [the] difficulty'.
Don't use 'difícil'
Never say 'con difícil'. It is a common mistake that sounds very wrong to native speakers.
Use it for nuance
It is a great way to sound more professional when explaining why something took longer than expected.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct phrase.
El atleta terminó la carrera __________.
The preposition 'con' must be followed by the noun 'dificultad'.
Which sentence is correct?
Choose the most natural sentence.
Option 1 is the standard, idiomatic way to express this.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ¿Pudiste abrir la caja? B: Sí, pero la abrí __________.
The context 'Sí, pero' implies a struggle, making 'con dificultad' the best fit.
Match the situation to the phrase.
You are explaining that you barely passed a test.
This phrase specifically describes achieving something with effort.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesEl atleta terminó la carrera __________.
The preposition 'con' must be followed by the noun 'dificultad'.
Choose the most natural sentence.
Option 1 is the standard, idiomatic way to express this.
A: ¿Pudiste abrir la caja? B: Sí, pero la abrí __________.
The context 'Sí, pero' implies a struggle, making 'con dificultad' the best fit.
You are explaining that you barely passed a test.
This phrase specifically describes achieving something with effort.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is very professional. It shows you can handle challenges.
It is neutral. It works in both settings.
'Es difícil' describes the task. 'Con dificultad' describes how you did it.
Yes, it works with almost any action verb.
No, 'difícilmente' means 'unlikely'.
No, it is a fixed phrase.
Don't use this. Use 'no pude'.
Yes, it is universally understood.
Yes, e.g., 'Lo acepté con dificultad'.
It is a soft 'd', almost like a 'th' in English.
Related Phrases
A duras penas
synonymBarely/with great difficulty
Costar trabajo
similarTo be difficult/to take effort
Con mucho esfuerzo
synonymWith a lot of effort
Poner dificultades
builds onTo create obstacles
