Inklingo

How to Say "headstrong" in Spanish

English → Spanish

terco

/TAIR-koh//ˈteɾ.ko/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'terco' when emphasizing a strong, often unreasonable, refusal to change one's mind or course of action, implying a deep-seated stubbornness.
A small donkey planting its hooves firmly in the ground, refusing to move while a person gently pulls on a rope.

Examples

Mi abuelo es muy terco y no quiere ir al médico.

My grandfather is very stubborn and doesn't want to go to the doctor.

No seas tan terco, escucha los consejos de tus amigos.

Don't be so stubborn; listen to your friends' advice.

A pesar de las pruebas, él se mantiene terco en su posición.

Despite the evidence, he remains stubborn in his position.

Matching the Gender

The word ends in 'o' for men (terco) and changes to 'a' for women (terca).

Being vs. Acting

Use 'ser' to describe a personality trait (He is a stubborn person), but use 'ponerse' to describe someone just being difficult in a specific moment.

Don't use it for objects

Mistake: “La puerta está terca.”

Correction: La puerta está trabada o dura.

testarudo

/tes-tah-ROO-doh//testaˈɾuðo/

adjectiveB1general
Choose 'testarudo' to describe someone who is obstinate and unwilling to listen to reason, often implying a more active or defiant resistance to being persuaded.
A donkey standing firmly with its legs planted in the ground, resisting a person pulling on its rope.

Examples

Mi abuelo es un hombre muy testarudo.

My grandfather is a very stubborn man.

No seas testarudo y acepta mi ayuda.

Don't be stubborn and accept my help.

Fue tan testaruda que no quiso leer las instrucciones.

She was so headstrong that she didn't want to read the instructions.

Matching for Men and Women

Since this is a word that describes people, you must change the ending to 'a' if you are talking about a woman (testaruda).

The 'To Be' Choice

Use 'ser' if being stubborn is part of someone's permanent personality, but use 'estar' if they are just acting stubborn in a specific moment.

Forgetting Gender Agreement

Mistake: “Mi hermana es testarudo.”

Correction: Mi hermana es testaruda. Always match the 'o' or 'a' to the person's gender.

Terco vs. Testarudo

Learners often confuse 'terco' and 'testarudo' because both mean stubborn. While interchangeable in many contexts, 'terco' can sometimes imply a more passive, ingrained stubbornness, whereas 'testarudo' might suggest a more active, headstrong resistance.

Related Translations

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