Tvrdohlavý

Tvrdohlavý is an adjective used in Czech and Slovak to describe a person who is stubborn, obstinate, or headstrong. The term implies a strong-willed, inflexible stance, often resisting persuasion, compromise, or change. Depending on context, it can carry a neutral, mildly pejorative, or occasionally laudatory nuance, when referring to principled determination.

Etymology and meaning: The word is formed from tvrdý meaning hard and hlava meaning head, i.e., literally “hard-headed.” It belongs to a common class of adjectives that describe personality traits and is widely used in both everyday speech and literature.

Morphology: In both languages, tvrdohlavý is gendered and inflected by number. In Czech, the forms include tvrdohlavý (masculine singular), tvrdohlavá (feminine singular), and tvrdohlavé (neuter singular), with corresponding plural forms. In Slovak, a similar gendered decline applies. The adverbial form is tvrdohlavě.

Usage notes: Tvrdohlavý can describe a person who stubbornly adheres to a stance, sometimes viewed negatively as inflexible, while in some contexts it may suggest steadfastness or principled resolve. It is often contrasted with terms such as neústupný (unyielding) or ochotný změně (willing to change), depending on the nuance intended.

Related terms: tvrdohlavost (hard-headedness) denotes the trait itself. The expression is common in informal conversation, journalism, and literary descriptions of character.