Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pate | /paːtə/ | masculine |
| Firmpate | masculine | |
| Patenonkel | /ˈpaːtn̩ˌʔɔŋkl̩/ | masculine |
| Götti | Alemannic, Swiss, masculine | |
| Taufpate | masculine | |
| Gevatter | [ɡəˈfatɐ] (narrow) | masculine |
| Taufzeuge | masculine | |
| Gote | masculine, regional | |
| Göd | Austrian, Bavarian, masculine | |
| Taufgöd | Austrian, masculine | |
| Firmgöd | Austrian, masculine |
A Pate is a man present at the christening of a baby who promises to help raise the child in a Christian manner.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Taufpate is a compound of Taufe (baptism) and Pate (godfather).
Which one should you use?
While Pate is the standard term for the person, Patenonkel is a more common way to refer to the person in a familial context (literally 'godfather-uncle'). To refer to a godmother, use the feminine form Patin.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Swiss German dialects, the standard term for godfather is Götti. In Austrian and Bavarian dialects, Göd is a common colloquial term and you may also see Taufgöd or Firmgöd.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Pate (godfather) or Patin (godmother) is Paten. The feminine form of Taufpate is Taufpatin.
How do you pronounce it?
Pate is pronounced /paːtə/.
Did you know?
- The word Pate is a linguistic relative of the German word Pfetter, which originally meant godfather before evolving to describe a ceiling beam.
- The term Gevatter was historically used not just for a godfather but as a friendly, informal way to address a male peer or neighbor.
- In Switzerland, the colloquial word Götti is so culturally ingrained that it is often used as a term of affection regardless of the formal christening ceremony.
Examples in context
- „Der Pate“ ist mein Lieblingsfilm.The Godfather is my favorite movie.This sentence shows the use of Pate in a movie title.Tatoeba #13326550 by Waldelfe, translation #7548875 by MisterBrown
- Von meinem Patenonkel habe ich eine Uhr geschenkt bekommen.My godfather gave me a watch as a gift.This sentence uses the form Patenonkel.Tatoeba #1081802 by Esperantostern, translation #2834067 by Desparil
- Mein Pate hat mir dieses rote Hemd geschenkt.My godfather gave me that red shirt.This sentence uses the form Pate.Tatoeba #11087659 by carlosalberto, translation #2761953 by mervert1
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Laura are discussing who to choose for their baby's christening.
- MaximilianWer soll der Pate für unser Kind werden?Who should be the godfather for our child?
- LauraIch denke, dein Bruder ist eine gute Wahl.I think your brother is a good choice.
- MaximilianJa, er wäre sicher ein toller Pate.Yes, he would certainly be a great godfather.
- LauraDann rufen wir ihn heute Abend an.Then we will call him this evening.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “godfather” translations and entries Pate, Patenonkel, Götti, Taufpate, Gevatter, Gote, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Pate, Patenonkel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
