Most of us enjoy a good discussion or debate from time to time, but when somebody is stubbornly set on their point of view, it can cause difficulties. This person might be described as a âTrotzkopfâ.
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âDer Trotzkopfâ can be broken down into two nouns - firstly âder Trotzâ, meaning defiance, and âder Kopfâ, meaning head. So, literally translating to âdefiance headâ, this expression refers to someone very stubborn and set in their ways.
Photo: DPA
In psychology, children are referred to as being in the "Trotzphase" (âdefiance phaseâ) between the ages of two to four. With this in mind, the word 'Trotzkopf' supposedly describes anyone who hasnât quite yet grown out of this stage of life.Â
A novel by 19th-century German writer Emmy von Rhoden also uses the term as its title. The story became a huge success after von Rhodenâs death, and tells the tale of a very stubborn 16 year old girl.
Examples:
Sei doch nicht so ein Trotzkopf!Â
Donât be so stubborn!
Er ist ein groĂer Trotzkopf, deswegen streiten sie sich oft.Â
He is a very stubborn person, and because of that they have a lot of arguments.
Menschen unter Sternzeichen Stier sind bekanntermaĂen Trotzköpfe.
People with the star sign Taurus are notoriously stubborn.
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