ahijada
/aiˈxada/feminine
The Spanish word for goddaughter is ahijada.
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)
Which one should you use?
Use the feminine form ahijada specifically for a female goddaughter, whereas ahijado is used for a male godson.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form of the noun is ahijado. When referring to a group of godchildren of mixed or unspecified gender, use the masculine plural form ahijados.
How do you pronounce it?
/aiˈxada/
Did you know?
- The term ahijado can sometimes be used colloquially to describe a protégé or someone who is being mentored and protected by a more powerful person in a professional setting.
- While ahijada refers to the child, the relationship between the godparent and the parent is called compadrazgo. The parents and godparents call each other compadre and comadre.
- The act of becoming a godparent to an ahijada is often referred to as 'compadrazgo'. This term describes the social system of 'co-parenthood' that creates a complex web of obligations between families.
Examples in context
- Esta es mi ahijada, María.This is my goddaughter, María.
- Mi querida ahijada, espero que siempre encuentres felicidad y éxito en la vida.My dear goddaughter, I hope you always find happiness and success in life.
- Ella es mi ahijada favorita.She is my favorite goddaughter.
- Compré un regalo para mi ahijada.I bought a gift for my goddaughter.
- Mi ahijada cumple cinco años hoy.My goddaughter turns five years old today.
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are talking about a child's birthday party.
- Javier¿Viene tu ahijada a la fiesta?Is your goddaughter coming to the party?
- ElenaSí, Elena vendrá con sus padres.Yes, Elena will come with her parents.
- JavierQué bueno que ella pueda ir.It's good that she can go.
- ElenaElla está muy emocionada por el evento.She is very excited about the event.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goddaughter” translations and entries ahijada, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
