têtu
/tɛ.ty/
The English word stubborn is translated into French as têtu. Wiktionary also lists entêté.
Meaning: refusing to move or change one's opinion (adj)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| têtu | /tɛ.ty/ /te.ty/ |
| entêté | /ɑ̃.tɛ.te/ /ɑ̃.te.te/ |
Both têtu and entêté are used to describe someone who refuses to move or change their opinion. You can also use the informal phrase têtu(e) comme une mule to mean someone is as stubborn as a mule.
What does it mean word for word?
The word têtu is derived from tête, which means 'head'.
Which one should you use?
While both terms mean stubborn, entêté is often considered slightly more formal or carries a nuance of being 'obstinate' compared to the more common têtu.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective têtu changes based on gender and number: use têtue for feminine singular, têtus for masculine plural and têtues for feminine plural.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɛ.ty/
Did you know?
- The verb form of entêté, which is entêter, can also mean to 'confuse' or 'bewilder' someone in certain literary contexts.
- French has a specific word obstiné which is a cognate of 'obstinate' and is used when stubbornness is seen as a persistent virtue rather than a flaw.
- To describe someone who is not just stubborn but incredibly 'thick-headed', the French might use the phrase avoir la tête dure.
Examples in context
- Tom est un homme têtu.Tom is a stubborn man.This sentence illustrates using têtu to describe a man.Tatoeba #6880173 by Rockaround, translation #5466591 by CK
- Pourquoi es-tu si têtu?Why are you so stubborn?This sentence shows how to ask someone why they are being stubborn using têtu.Tatoeba #6328405 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #6328008 by OsoHombre
- Je ne pense pas être têtu.I don't think I'm stubborn.This sentence demonstrates a way to deny being stubborn using têtu.Tatoeba #7982901 by Aiji, translation #5856402 by CK
- Il est têtu comme une mule.He is stubborn as a mule.
- Son refus d'abandonner montre à quel point il est opiniâtre.His refusal to give up shows how stubborn he is.
- Ne lui demande pas de changer d'avis, il est têtu comme une mule.Don't ask him to change his mind, he's stubborn as a mule.
- Elle est tellement bornée qu'elle refuse de voir les autres solutions.She's so stubborn that she refuses to see other solutions.
- Mon frère est très entêté, il ne changera pas d'avis facilement.My brother is very stubborn, he won't change his mind easily.
- 40 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Hugo are arguing about which movie to watch.
- ChloéHugo, tu es vraiment têtu aujourd'hui !Hugo, you are really stubborn today!
- HugoJe ne suis pas têtu, j'ai juste une idée.I am not stubborn, I just have an idea.
- ChloéMais tu refuses de changer d'avis.But you refuse to change your mind.
- HugoDésolé, je sais que je suis têtu.Sorry, I know that I am stubborn.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stubborn” translations and entries têtu, entêté, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
