Vocab: põikpäine - independent
stubborn; headstrong; unyielding; someone who sticks with something persistently
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"