esfuerzo

effort

noun es-FWEHR-soh Less Common

Usage Note

Esfuerzo derives from the verb esforzarse ('to make an effort'). The phrase hacer un esfuerzo ('to make an effort') is the standard collocation. Sin esfuerzo ('effortlessly') and con mucho esfuerzo ('with great effort') are common adverbial phrases. It does not carry the physical sense of 'physical strain' as strongly as English 'exertion' — it leans more toward mental or sustained effort.

Examples

"Aprender un idioma requiere mucho esfuerzo."

Natural Translation

Learning a language requires a lot of effort.

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