obstáculo
nounCEFR B2
What does “obstáculo” mean in English?
obstacle, barrier — something that blocks progress or makes achievement difficult
obstacle, barrier — something that blocks progress or makes achievement difficult (superar obstáculos; obstáculo burocrático)
Example sentences
La burocracia excesiva sigue siendo el principal obstáculo para la creación de nuevas empresas en el país.
Excessive bureaucracy remains the main obstacle to the creation of new businesses in the country.
Superar los obstáculos del primer año es un rite of passage para cualquier nuevo emprendedor.
Overcoming the obstacles of the first year is a rite of passage for any new entrepreneur.
El comité puso tantos obstáculos al proyecto que el equipo decidió abandonarlo.
The committee put so many obstacles in the way of the project that the team decided to abandon it.
How to use it
El obstáculo (noun, masculine) means 'obstacle' or 'barrier' — something blocking progress or achievement. Key collocations: superar un obstáculo; principal obstáculo para; obstáculo burocrático; salvar/eliminar obstáculos; poner obstáculos. Distinguish from dificultad (difficulty — the quality of being hard) and barrera (barrier — more physical or systemic). Salvar/superar obstáculos is a key collocational distinction: salvar is more agentive.
Common mistake
El obstáculo is masculine — do not say *la obstáculo. Superar un obstáculo (to overcome); poner obstáculos (to obstruct). Obstáculo is more concrete/specific than dificultad (a general state of being hard). 'To clear an obstacle' = salvar or superar un obstáculo. 'Obstacle course' = pista de obstáculos.