Meaning
tough, hard, difficult
- resolute, determined
- (colloquial) cool, awesome, badass
In a sentence
Oggi il lavoro è stato davvero tosto.
Work was really tough today.
Sei tosto, non molli mai.
You're tough, you never give up.
Hai fatto un allenamento tosto ieri?
Did you do a tough workout yesterday?
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| tosto | masculine · singular |
| tosta | feminine · singular |
| tosti | masculine · plural |
| toste | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Use 'tosto' for physical toughness (e.g., meat, materials) more than 'duro', which can sound harsh or unnatural.
- In Northern Italy, 'tosto' often means 'difficult' (e.g., 'un esame tosto'), while 'duro' is less common here.
- Avoid overusing 'tosto' for 'resolute'—'determinato' or 'risoluto' sound more natural in formal contexts.