be arduous

[/bi ˈɑːrduəs/]
verb phrase
ser árduo
1. to be extremely difficult and tiring; to require great effort and perseverance
The journey through the mountains will be arduous and exhausting.
A jornada pela montanha será árdua e exaustiva.
2. to be characterized by hard work and difficulty
Learning a new language can be arduous for adult learners.
Aprender um novo idioma pode ser árduo para aprendizes adultos.
3. to involve steep, difficult terrain or conditions
The climb up the steep hill will be arduous.
A subida da encosta íngreme será árdua.
The phrase 'be arduous' is formal and literary in both English and Portuguese. It is commonly used in academic writing, formal contexts, and descriptions of challenging physical or intellectual endeavors. In Brazilian Portuguese, 'ser árduo' maintains the same formal tone and is less frequently used in everyday casual conversation, where 'ser difícil' is preferred.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
be difficultbe challengingbe taxingbe gruelingbe strenuousbe laborious
Antonyms / Antônimos
be easybe simplebe effortlessbe light

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ser árduo
standard usage, commonly used in formal and informal contexts
Rio de Janeiro
ser árduo
standard usage, may also use ser difícil in casual speech
São Paulo
ser árduo
standard usage, formal contexts preferred
Portugal
ser árduo
equivalent usage, same formality level as Brazil

Related Words

arduousarduouslyarduousnessdifficultchallengingstrenuouslaborious

Related Idioms & Phrases

an arduous journey
an arduous task
an arduous climb
an arduous undertaking
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