French Conversation · Level 45
75 words
French word
dureté
Pronunciation
IPA/dyʁəte/
Meaning
- feminine nounhardness
Example
La dureté de l'eau est élevée ici.
The water is very hard here.
More examples
La dureté de ses propos a surpris tout le monde.
The harshness of his remarks surprised everyone.
Core concept
A material or manner that does not yield easily, extending from resistance to scratches or pressure to an inflexible human, rule, or speech.
Common phrases
dureté de l'eau
hardness of water
dureté du sol
hardness of the soil
dureté de la vie
harshness of life
Similar words
sévérité: Severity in punishment or judgment, with little room for mercy.
fermeté: A firm, unwavering quality in an attitude or decision.
solidité: The ability of a material or structure to remain strong and resist damage over time.
rigidité: Stiffness that makes an object hard to bend.
Definition in French
Qualité d'un corps ou d'une substance qui résiste à la déformation, à la rayure ou à la pénétration, et, par extension, caractère sévère d'une personne, d'une règle ou d'un discours.
Word origin
Dureté comes through Old French from Latin duritas, formed from durus, 'hard,' and its physical sense later extended to severe or inflexible conduct.
Usage tips
- For people, policies, and speech, everyday French often uses être dur or sévère rather than the noun dureté.