figlioccia
feminine
The Italian word for goddaughter is figlioccia.
The term refers to a female child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent.
Meaning: female child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of figlioccia is figliocce.
Did you know?
- The term comare used for the godmother of a figlioccia is also used in some Italian dialects as a colloquial, slightly ironic way to address a female friend, similar to 'girlfriend' or 'pal'.
- While figlioccia refers to the child, the godparent is called compare or comare. These terms literally mean 'co-parent' and highlight the social bond between the adults rather than just the relationship to the child.
- In some traditional Italian rural cultures, the comare was historically viewed as a spiritual sister with a bond as strong as blood, sometimes creating a 'compadrazgo' network for mutual social protection.
Examples in context
- Ho una figlioccia meravigliosa.I have a wonderful goddaughter.
- Sono molto orgoglioso di avere una figlioccia come te.I am very proud to have a goddaughter like you.
- Ho una figlioccia molto intelligente.I have a very intelligent goddaughter.
Example conversation
Matteo and Chiara are looking at photos of children.
- MatteoChi è questa bambina nella foto?Who is this little girl in the photo?
- ChiaraÈ la mia figlioccia, Giulia.She is my goddaughter, Giulia.
- MatteoÈ davvero carina, Chiara!She is really cute, Chiara!
- ChiaraGrazie, voglio bene alla mia figlioccia.Thank you, I love my goddaughter.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goddaughter” translations and entries figlioccia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
