How do you say “Tough it out” in Spanish?
The closest natural Spanish equivalent is aguantar el tipo, which literally means “to keep up one’s composure”. English speakers use tough it out to mean to endure a difficult situation without giving up. An informal match for holding up under pressure. It can stress staying composed as well as continuing. Register: informal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural Spanish
aguantar el tipo
/aɣwanˈtaɾ el ˈtipo/
- Literal meaning
- “to keep up one’s composure”
- Register
- informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
90 out of 100
What a native Spanish speaker would actually say
“Aguantamos el tipo” suggests that things were difficult but we managed to keep going. It fits an uncomfortable or demanding situation.
For simple endurance, “aguantar” alone is enough. Neither version requires pretending that everything is fine.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning4 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context4 out of 5
- Literal similarity1 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
In context
English
The tent leaked, but we toughed it out until morning.
Spanish
La tienda de campaña tenía goteras, pero aguantamos el tipo hasta la mañana.
English
She disliked the course but decided to tough it out until June.
Spanish
No le gustaba el curso, pero decidió aguantar el tipo hasta junio.
Related expressions
Last updated 2026-11-04