testardo
/tesˈtar.do/
The English phrase "hard head" is translated into Italian as testardo.
The term is used to describe a person who is stubborn and refuses to change their mind or opinion. Depending on the context, testardo can range from a neutral description of someone's persistence to a mild criticism of someone being difficult.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Naples region, locals might use the term capa tosta to mean hard-headed.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective testardo changes its ending to agree with the subject: use testarda for a female subject, testardi for a group of men or a mixed group and testarde for a group of women.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable: /tesˈtar.do/.
When do people say it?
An informal expression used to emphasize this quality is Testardo come un mulo, which translates to "stubborn as a mule".
Did you know?
- If you want to describe someone who is being particularly unreasonable, you might use the word testone instead of testardo. Adding the suffix '-one' creates a word that literally means 'big head' and implies a much more intense, almost comical level of stubbornness.
- An Italian might tell a testardo person to mettere la testa a posto, which literally means to 'put the head in place' but is used to tell someone to start behaving sensibly.
- Italians sometimes use the expression fare la testa dura to describe the act of being stubborn, turning the adjective testardo into a physical action of 'making the head hard'.
Examples in context
- Marco è davvero una persona ostinata, non si arrende mai.Marco is truly a hard-headed person, he never gives up.
- È un tipo molto testardo.He is a very stubborn guy.
- Non essere così testardo!Don't be so stubborn!
Example conversation
Sofia and Lorenzo are discussing a mutual friend's refusal to follow advice.
- SofiaMarco non vuole ascoltare i consigli.Marco doesn't want to listen to advice.
- LorenzoSì, è davvero troppo testardo.Yes, he is truly too stubborn.
- SofiaNon cambierà idea facilmente.He won't change his mind easily.
- LorenzoLo so, è un caso disperato.I know, he's a hopeless case.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry testardo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
