Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Stubborn in Spanish: Terco, Testarudo & Necio
Terco · adjective · TEHR-koh
Stubborn in Spanish is terco or testarudo. Both describe someone who refuses to change their mind. Regional alternatives include necio (Latin America) and cabezón (Spain, colloquial).
TEHR-koh (terco) · tehs-tah-ROO-doh (testarudo) · NEH-syoh (necio)
Mi hijo es tan terco que nunca admite sus errores.
My son is so stubborn that he never admits his mistakes.
Stubborn in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for stubborn, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| terco | stubborn | TEHR-koh | Default, widely understood |
| testarudo | stubborn | general, slightly formal | |
| necio | stubborn | Latin America, also means foolish | |
| cabezón | stubborn | Spain, colloquial |
How Native Speakers Use Terco
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Describing a personality
Es la persona más testaruda que conozco; no cambia de opinión por nada.
She's the most stubborn person I know; she won't change her mind for anything.
Testarudo derives from testa (head), similar to English hard-headed.
Scolding a child in Mexico
No seas necio, ponte el suéter que hace frío.
Don't be stubborn, put on your sweater — it's cold.
In Mexico, necio is widely used with children to mean stop being difficult.
Colloquial in Spain
Eres un cabezón, siempre tienes que llevar la razón.
You're so stubborn, you always have to be right.
Cabezón literally means big-headed and is informal in Spain.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Terco
Using obstinado too casually
Incorrect: Mi perro es muy obstinado.
Correct: Mi perro es muy terco.
Obstinado exists but sounds overly literary in conversation. Terco is the natural everyday choice for stubborn.
Forgetting gender agreement
Incorrect: Ella es muy terco.
Correct: Ella es muy terca.
Terco changes to terca for feminine subjects. Spanish adjectives must agree in gender and number.
Lock in Stubborn Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Terco used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using terco in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Mi hijo es tan terco que nunca admite sus errores. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Stubborn in Spanish
- How do you say stubborn in Spanish?
- The most common translation is terco. Testarudo is equally valid and slightly more formal. In Mexico, necio is popular, and in Spain cabezón is used informally.
- Is necio the same as stubborn?
- Necio can mean stubborn in everyday Latin American Spanish, but its original meaning is foolish or ignorant. Context determines the intended sense.
- What is the difference between terco and testarudo?
- While closely related in meaning, subtle differences exist — . Terco is shorter and more colloquial; testarudo is slightly more formal but used just as often. Both are understood everywhere.