Spanish Conversation · Level 30
88 words
Spanish word
madrastra
Pronunciation
IPA/maˈðɾastɾa/
Meaning
- feminine nounstepmom
Example
Mi madrastra es muy amable.
My stepmom is very kind.
More examples
Mis hermanos no aceptan a la madrastra.
My siblings do not accept the stepmom.
Core concept
The partner of a child's parent who performs motherly duties without being the birth mother.
Common phrases
llevarse bien con la madrastra
get along with the stepmom
madrastra estricta
strict stepmom
tener una madrastra buena
have a good stepmom
Similar words
madre: Gives birth to and raises her own child.
padrastro: Marries a child's parent and cares for the child as father despite lacking biological paternity.
madre adoptiva: Legally adopts a child and assumes full parental responsibility.
Definition in Spanish
Mujer que ocupa el papel maternal frente a los hijos de su pareja sin ser su progenitora biológica.
Word origin
Derived from madre 'mother' with the suffix -astra, which signals a step or nonbiological maternal relationship in Spanish.
Usage tips
- Madrastra evokes the 'evil stepmother' stereotype from fairy tales and popular culture, so the word can carry negative connotations in narratives.
Opposites
- madremothernoun
Related words
- madrastrostepfathernoun