How to Say "Godfather" in Polish

ojciec chrzestny

/ˈɔj.t͡ɕɛt͡s ˈxʂɛst.nɘ/masculine

The English phrase "godfather" is translated into Polish as ojciec chrzestny. If unsure, use ojciec chrzestny. Wiktionary also lists chrzestny.

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

“godfather” in Polish
Polish	IPA	Note
ojciec chrzestny	/ˈɔj.t͡ɕɛt͡s ˈxʂɛst.nɘ/	masculine
chrzestny	/ˈxʂɛst.nɘ/	masculine

A godfather is a man present at the christening of a baby who promises to help raise the child in a Christian manner.

The term ojciec chrzestny is composed of ojciec, meaning father and chrzestny, which means relating to baptism or christening.

ojciec chrzestny is the full, formal noun, whereas chrzestny is a shortened version used to refer to the same person.

While the masculine forms are used for a godfather, the feminine form for a godmother is matka chrzestna.

/ˈɔj.tɕɛts ˈxʂɛst.nɘ/. The word has 4 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.

In Poland, the relationship between a godparent and a godchild is often treated as a lifelong familial bond, and it is common to address the chrzestny using the title as a name instead of their actual first name.
Historically, the choice of a chrzestny was a strategic social decision used to build alliances between families or to ensure the child had a high-status protector in society.
The Polish word for baptism, chrzest, is the root of chrzestny and is used in idioms to describe a 'trial by fire' or a first difficult experience in a new role.

Mój ojciec chrzestny dał mi zegarek jako prezent.
My godfather gave me a watch as a gift.
This sentence shows how to use ojciec chrzestny when mentioning a gift from a godfather.
Tatoeba #2834263 by mdymala1, translation #2834067 by Desparil
Mój ojciec chrzestny jest bardzo pomocny.
My godfather is very helpful.

Sources

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