French Conversation · Level 86
60 words
French word
têtu
Pronunciation
IPA/tety/
Meaning
- adjectivestubborn
Example
Il est têtu.
He is stubborn.
More examples
Son ami est têtu comme une mule.
His friend is as stubborn as a mule.
Core concept
A person gripping one opinion or course so firmly that new arguments do not move them.
Common phrases
être têtu
be stubborn
têtu comme une mule
as stubborn as a mule
Similar words
obstiné: Determined to continue with a decision or course of action despite difficulties.
entêté: Stubbornly attached to one idea and unreceptive to other people's opinions.
borné: Limited in outlook and resistant to changing one's own views.
Definition in French
Qui garde fermement son opinion ou son comportement et change difficilement.
Word origin
The adjective comes from Old French testu, derived from teste, an old form of tête, and developed the figurative sense of being hard-headed.
Usage tips
- The final u in têtu has the French rounded-vowel sound, not the vowel in English "too".
Other meanings
- stubborn personnoun
Opposites
- raisonnablereasonableadjective
- soupleflexibleadjective
Related words
- entêtéstubbornadjective
- entêtementstubbornnessnoun
- s'entêterpersist stubbornlyverb