ゴッドファーザー
goddofāzā
The English word 'godfather' can be translated into Japanese as ゴッドファーザー (goddofāzā). Wiktionary also lists 代父 (daifu) and 教父 (kyōfu).
Meaning: man present at the christening of a baby who promises to help raise the child in a Christian manner (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ゴッドファーザー | goddofāzā | |
| 代父 | daifu | [da̠iɸɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 教父 | kyōfu | |
| 名付け親 |
The term refers to a man present at the christening of a baby who promises to help raise the child in a Christian manner.
Which one should you use?
代父 is the specific term used in a Christian religious context to refer to a godfather. In contrast, 教父 most commonly refers to the 'Church Fathers' (early Christian theologians). For secular situations, 名付け親 refers to the person who chose a name, which is often used colloquially for a godfather in non-religious settings. Finally, ゴッドファーザー is frequently used to refer to the concept of a godfather in the context of pop culture or the famous film.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
代父 is the most precise technical term for a godfather in formal Japanese Christian documentation.
How do you pronounce it?
goddofāzā
Did you know?
- The term 名付け親 is sometimes used in professional contexts to describe the person who created a brand name or a new product, effectively acting as the 'godparent' of an idea.
- In Japanese secular contexts, a 名付け親 does not have to be a man. Unlike the English 'godfather', this term is gender-neutral and covers both 'godfathers' and 'godmothers'.
- Japanese grammar lacks a natural equivalent for the 'god-' prefix used in 'godfather' or 'godmother'. Instead, it relies on characters meaning 'substitute' 代 or 'teaching' 教 to convey the religious role.
Examples in context
- 彼は私のゴッドファーザーです。Kare wa watashi no goddufāzā desu.He is my godfather.
- ゴッドファーザーに選ばれました。Goddufāzā ni erabaremashita.I was chosen as a godfather.
- 素晴らしいゴッドファーザーになってほしいです。Subarashii goddufāzā ni natte hoshii desu.I want him to be a wonderful godfather.
Example conversation
Misaki is showing a photo of her baby to Hiroto.
- 美咲 Misakiこの人は誰ですか？Kono hito wa dare desu ka?Who is this person?
- 大翔 Hiroto私の息子のゴッドファーザーです。Watashi no musuko no goddofāzā desu.He is my son's godfather.
- 美咲 Misakiとても優しそうな方ですね。Totemo yasashisō na kata desu ne.He looks like a very kind person.
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、本当にいい人なんです。Hai, hontō ni ii hito nan desu.Yes, he is really a good person.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “godfather” translations and entries 代父, 教父, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
