dur/dyʁ/
adjective / noun / adverb · A2 · Frequency 442
adjectivemasculine
Meanings
hard, solid; not soft
Refers to physical hardness or solidity of objects, difficult to bend, compress or penetrate.
hard, difficult; harsh; strict
Figurative sense: used for tasks or situations that are difficult (travail dur), harsh conditions (conditions dures), or strict, severe attitude towards people (être dur avec qn).
Examples
Ce pain est dur après une nuit à l'air libre.
This bread is hard after being left in the open air overnight.
Le dernier examen de physique était dur pour toute la classe.
The last physics exam was difficult for the whole class.
Notre entraîneur est dur, mais il reste juste avec les joueurs.
Our coach is strict, but he remains fair with the players.
Collocations
- un matériau dura hard material
- une épreuve durea hard test
Common mistakes
Je suis dur de comprendre ce texte.
C’est dur de comprendre ce texte.
For the sense “difficult,” dur is normally used in the impersonal structure “c’est dur de + infinitive,” not like English hard in “je suis dur de comprendre.”
Related words
antonymmousoft, pliable, comfortable
nounmasculine
Meanings
tough guy, hardliner
colloquial; a tough person or hardline partisan
Examples
Le dur du béton assure la stabilité de la fondation.
The solidity of the concrete ensures the stability of the foundation.
Nous avons testé le dur du matériau avant de l'utiliser.
We tested the material's firmness before using it.
Le dur de cette roche résiste bien aux chocs.
The solidity of this rock makes it withstand impacts well.
Collocations
- dureté du métalhardness of the metal
- tester la duretétest the hardness
- pièce de durcoin
Common mistakes
La dur de ce matériau est élevée.
La dureté de ce matériau est élevée.
The noun dur is not used to mean 'hardness'; use dureté instead.
J'ai trouvé un dur par terre.
J'ai trouvé une pièce de monnaie par terre.
The use of dur to mean 'coin' is archaic; modern French uses 'pièce de monnaie'.
Related words
synonymsoliditésolidity, firmness
synonymrobustesserobustness, strength
nounmasculine
Meanings
tough guy, hardliner
colloquial; a tough, uncompromising person
Examples
Ce dur ne se plaint jamais, même quand le travail devient pénible.
This tough guy never complains, even when the work becomes difficult.
Le dur du quartier a finalement accepté de protéger le nouveau venu.
The tough guy in the neighborhood eventually agreed to protect the newcomer.
Sous son apparence de dur, il est très attentionné avec ses enfants.
Behind his tough exterior, he is very caring with his children.
Collocations
- un dur à cuirea tough guy
Common mistakes
dur dur
dur
Repeating 'dur' as a noun is incorrect; the correct usage is the singular form.
Related words
synonymcostaudstrong, sturdy
synonymdur à cuiretough person, hard to deal with
adverb
Meanings
hard, with effort
Commonly used to indicate doing something with great effort, e.g. “travailler dur” (work hard).
hard, firmly, forcefully
Used to describe the intensity of an action or the hardness of an object, e.g. “frapper dur” (hit hard).
Examples
Il travaille dur pour terminer son rapport à temps.
He works hard to finish his report on time.
Elle a étudié dur avant son examen de médecine.
She studied hard before her medical exam.
Nous avons dû réfléchir dur pour trouver une solution.
We had to think hard to find a solution.
Collocations
- travailler durto work hard
- frapper durto hit hard
Common mistakes
Il travaille dure.
Il travaille dur.
The adverb dur is invariable and should not take an -e ending.
Elle frappe durement.
Elle frappe dur.
As an adverb, dur is commonly used instead of the more formal 'durement'.
Related words
synonymfortementstrongly, forcefully
antonymdoucementgently, softly
adjectivefeminine
Meanings
hard, solid; not soft
Refers to physical hardness or solidity of objects, difficult to bend, compress or penetrate.
hard, difficult; harsh; strict
Figurative sense: used for tasks or situations that are difficult (travail dur), harsh conditions (conditions dures), or strict, severe attitude towards people (être dur avec qn).
Examples
La coque dure protège bien le téléphone.
The hard case protects the phone well.
La semaine a été dure pour toute l'équipe.
The week was difficult for the whole team.
La responsable est dure avec les employés qui arrivent en retard.
The manager is strict with employees who arrive late.
Collocations
- un matériau dura hard material
- une épreuve durea hard test
Common mistakes
Je suis dur de comprendre ce texte.
C’est dur de comprendre ce texte.
For the sense “difficult,” dur is normally used in the impersonal structure “c’est dur de + infinitive,” not like English hard in “je suis dur de comprendre.”
Related words
antonymmousoft, pliable, comfortable