tough
Colloquial for hard, difficult, or demanding.
EXAMPLE
Die Prüfung war echt tough, aber ich glaube, ich habe sie bestanden.
The exam was really tough, but I think I passed it.
tough
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Meanings
tough
Colloquial for a person who is resilient, robust, and not easily intimidated.
EXAMPLE
Sie ist eine toughe Verhandlungspartnerin und gibt nicht so schnell auf.
She is a tough negotiation partner and does not give up easily.
Usage tips
English loanword
'Tough' is a word borrowed from English and is used especially in colloquial language. The pronunciation is based on the English pronunciation.
EXAMPLE
Das war ein tougher Tag im Büro.
That was a tough day at the office.
German grammar
Although it is an English word, 'tough' is declined like a normal German adjective when it comes before a noun.
EXAMPLE
Er ist ein tougher Gegner im Tennis.
He is a tough opponent in tennis.
Context clue
When 'tough' describes a person, it means that they are resilient and mentally strong. If it refers to a thing or situation, it means 'schwierig' (difficult) or 'anstrengend' (strenuous).
EXAMPLE
Meine Chefin ist eine wirklich toughe Frau.
My boss is a really tough woman.
Compare with
tough vs hart
hard
Both hart and tough can describe a difficult, demanding task. Hart is neutral in standard German and can emphasize trying conditions; tough is distinctly colloquial. Hart is therefore more suitable in a factual text, while tough can also be used in a casual conversation.
tough
Nach der Prüfung sagte Mia zu ihrer Freundin, dass sie echt tough war.
After the exam, Mia told her friend that it had been really tough.
hart
Im Bericht steht, dass die Prüfung für alle Teilnehmer hart war.
The report says that the exam was hard for all the participants.
In real life
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