ज़िद्दी (ziddii)

adjective A single-sense adjective meaning 'stubborn' or 'obstinate', describing a person's temperament. Related to the noun ज़िद (zid, 'insistence, obstinacy') from which it derives.
Sense 1 : stubborn, obstinate, willful
adjective
Synonyms: अड़ियल (adiyal), हठी (hathii, literary), दुराग्रही (duraagrahii, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This word is dinner-table gold for any Indian parent -- a kid who won't eat unless it's a specific bowl, or won't leave the toy shop, gets called ज़िद्दी (ziddii) with equal parts exasperation and affection. It comes straight from the noun ज़िद (zid), which itself is used constantly in the phrase ज़िद करना (zid karnaa, 'to insist/throw a fit for something') -- knowing that verb phrase makes this adjective feel much more alive.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use this only for adults, but it is extremely common when describing children who refuse to budge, e.g. over a toy or food -- ज़िद्दी बच्चा (ziddii bachchaa, 'stubborn child') is one of the most frequent uses of this word. 2) Do not confuse with गुस्सैल (gussail, 'short-tempered') -- ज़िद्दी (ziddii) is about refusing to change one's mind or demand, not about anger.
Sample Sentences:
मेरा बेटा बहुत ज़िद्दी है। My son is very stubborn.
(meraa betaa bahut ziddii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह बचपन से ही ज़िद्दी थी। She was stubborn since childhood.
(vah bachpan se hii ziddii thii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
इतना ज़िद्दी मत बनो, थोड़ा समझौता कर लो। Don't be so stubborn, compromise a little.
(itnaa ziddii mat bano, thodaa samjhautaa kar lo।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
बच्चा ज़िद्दी होकर खिलौने के लिए रो रहा था। The child, being stubborn, was crying for the toy.
(bachchaa ziddii hokar khilaune ke lie ro rahaa thaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर वह इतना ज़िद्दी न होता तो हम कब का समझौता कर लेते। If he weren't so stubborn, we would have reached an agreement long ago.
(agar vah itnaa ziddii n hotaa to ham kab kaa samjhautaa kar lete।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम हमेशा इतने ज़िद्दी रहोगे? Will you always remain this stubborn?
(kyaa tum hameshaa itne ziddii rahoge?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
उम्मीद है कि वह इतना ज़िद्दी न निकले। Hopefully he doesn't turn out to be this stubborn.
(ummiid hai ki vah itnaa ziddii n nikle।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
यह बच्ची अपने पापा से भी ज़्यादा ज़िद्दी है, बिना उसी कटोरी के खाना ही नहीं खाती। This little girl is even more stubborn than her father -- she just won't eat without that specific bowl.
(yah bachchii apne paapaa se bhii zyaadaa ziddii hai, binaa usii katorii ke khaanaa hii nahiin khaatii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
आजकल के बच्चे पहले से कहीं ज़्यादा ज़िद्दी हो गए हैं। Children these days have become much more stubborn than before.
(aajkal ke bachche pahle se kahiin zyaadaa ziddii ho gae hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसकी ज़िद्दी आदत के कारण घर में रोज़ खिलौने की दुकान वाली लड़ाई होती है। Because of his stubborn nature, there is a fight over the toy shop at home every day.
(uskii ziddii aadat ke kaaran ghar men roz khilaune kii dukaan vaalii ladaaii hotii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सर, माफ़ कीजिए, मेरा बेटा थोड़ा ज़िद्दी है, कृपया उसे नज़रअंदाज़ कर दीजिए। Sir, please excuse me, my son is a bit stubborn, kindly overlook it.
(sar, maaf kiijie, meraa betaa thodaa ziddii hai, kripyaa use nazraandaaz kar diijie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
(sg.m): ज़िद्दी (ziddii)
(pl.m): ज़िद्दीे ([[ज़िद्दीे]])
(sg.f): ज़िद्दीी ([[ज़िद्दीी]])
(pl.f): ज़िद्दीी ([[ज़िद्दीी]])