Spanish Conversation · Level 51
74 words
Spanish word
padrino
Pronunciation
IPA/paˈðɾino/
Meaning
- masculine noungodfather
Example
¿Quién es tu padrino?
Who is your godfather?
More examples
Como padrino de bautizo, firmé el certificado.
As the baptismal godfather, I signed the certificate.
Core concept
Man standing beside a child at a baptism.
Common phrases
padrino de bautizo
baptismal godfather
padrino político
political patron
Similar words
madrina: Adult woman who stands as a child's ceremonial godparent at baptism.
compadre: Man who becomes a child's godparent at baptism and helps care for the child.
padrastro: Man who becomes a child's stepfather by marrying the child's parent.
tutor: Person legally appointed to protect a child and manage the child's affairs.
Definition in Spanish
Persona que cumple el papel de padrino como figura de apoyo y responsabilidad simbólica en ceremonias (por ejemplo, bautizo) y, por extensión, alguien que respalda o apoya a otra persona.
Word origin
From Latin patrīnus (from pater 'father'), originally meaning a father-like sponsor for religious rites and later extended to a protector or backer.
Usage tips
- In everyday use 'tener padrino' often means having a powerful backer, so padrino can refer to a sponsor or patron as well as the ceremonial godfather.
Other meanings
- sponsornoun
- best mannoun
Related words
- apadrinarsponsorverb
- padrinazgosponsorshipnoun