French word

parrain

Pronunciation

IPA/paʁɛ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine noungodfather

Example

Mon parrain m'a offert un livre pour mon baptême.

My godfather gave me a book for my baptism.

Illustration for parrain (godfather)

More examples

Elle a demandé à son frère d'être parrain.

She asked her brother to be a godfather.

Core concept

A recognized adult linked to a child as a continuing source of guidance, support, and formal protection.

Common phrases

  • être parrain

    be a godfather

  • le parrain de l'enfant

    the child's godfather

  • choisir son parrain

    choose one's godfather

Similar words

marraine: An adult who serves as a child's godmother at baptism.
témoin: A person who attests to an event at a wedding or in official proceedings.

Definition in French

Titre donné à l'adulte chargé d'accompagner un enfant dans sa vie familiale et sociale, souvent lors d'une cérémonie comme le baptême.

Word origin

French parrain developed from Old French parrain or parrein, which comes from Latin patrīnus, "of a father," related to pater.

Usage tips

  • The final -ain in parrain represents a nasal vowel, so the final n is not pronounced as a separate consonant.

Other meanings

  • patronnoun
  • sponsornoun

Related words

  • parrainersponsorverb
  • parrainagesponsorshipnoun

Word lists with this word