French word

difficilement

Pronunciation

IPA/difisiləmɑ̃/

Meaning

  • adverbwith difficulty

Example

Nous avons difficilement trouvé une solution.

We found a solution with difficulty.

Illustration for difficilement (with difficulty)

More examples

Après la maladie, il marche difficilement.

After the illness, he walks with difficulty.

Core concept

A difficult route completed step by step despite resistance.

Common phrases

  • parler difficilement

    speak with difficulty

  • marcher difficilement

    walk with difficulty

Similar words

avec peine: With hardship or obstacles, barely managing to do something.
à peine: Almost not at all; to a very limited extent.
péniblement: In a physically or mentally painful and strenuous way.
mal: In an ineffective or unsatisfactory way.

Definition in French

Marque qu'une action a été faite péniblement, en surmontant des obstacles ou après un grand effort.

Word origin

The adverb combines difficile with the suffix -ment, while difficile comes from Latin difficilis, formed from dis- and facilis, meaning not easy.

Usage tips

  • In formal written French, difficilement is common, while speech often uses avoir du mal à plus an infinitive.

Other meanings

  • barelyadverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word