a duras penas

A duras penas se oía su voz entre el ruido.
His voice was barely audible over the noise.
Con el sueldo actual, a duras penas llegan a fin de mes.
On their current salary, they barely make ends meet.
A duras penas pudo contener el llanto.
She could barely hold back her tears.
Llegó a la cima a duras penas.
He reached the summit with great difficulty.
El equipo ganó a duras penas tras jugar mal.
The team won narrowly after playing badly.

Similar words

apenas

con gran esfuerzo

por los pelos

con dificultad

Llegó a la cima a duras penas.
He reached the summit with great difficulty.
Con el sueldo actual, a duras penas llegan a fin de mes.
On their current salary, they barely make ends meet.
A duras penas pudo contener el llanto.
She could barely hold back her tears.
El equipo ganó a duras penas tras jugar mal.
The team won narrowly after playing badly.
A duras penas se oía su voz entre el ruido.
His voice was barely audible over the noise.

con dificultad

con gran esfuerzo

por los pelos

apenas

From penas in its sense of hardships, strengthened by duras, “hard”.

What does a duras penas mean?

With great difficulty, or only just.

Does it imply success?

Usually yes, but success is narrow or hard won.

Can it be used for money?

Yes: a family may barely make ends meet.

Is it about sadness?

No. Here penas means hardships or difficulties.

What is a natural English equivalent?

“Barely” or “with great difficulty”, depending on context.

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.

No comments yet. Be the first to add one.

Look up word or phrase...