Vocab: põikpäine - independent

stubborn; headstrong; unyielding; someone who sticks with something persistently

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Building blocks

• põik- → comes from the verb põikama, meaning to turn aside, dodge, or avoid going straight

• -päi- → comes from pea (“head”)

• -ne → an adjective-forming ending

So, põikpäine literally means "turn-headed" and figuratively means stubborn, headstrong, or not easily persuaded. Someone who metaphorically turns away, doesn’t give in, or refuses to follow the straight path.

How to use it:

Here is how you use the word “põikpäine” ⬇️

Examples

Põikpäine noormees keeldus abi vastu võtmast

Literally: “Stubborn young-man refused help to accept”

Idiomatically: “The stubborn young man refused to accept help”

Põikpäine - Adjective - Nominative Singular: "Stubborn"
noormees - Noun - Nominative Singular: "young man"
keeldus - Verb - 3rd Person Singular, Past Tense: "refused"
abi - Noun - Partitive Singular: "help"
vastu võtmast - Compound verb - ma-Infinitive, -mast form: "to accept"