How to Say "Godmother" in Arabic

عَرَّابَة

ʕarrābafeminine

The English phrase godmother can be translated into Arabic as عَرَّابَة (ʕarrāba) or إِشْبِينَة.

Meaning: woman present at the christening of a baby who promises to help raise the child in a Christian manner (noun)

Ways to say it

“godmother” in Arabic
Arabic	Romanization (Wiktionary)	Note
عَرَّابَة	ʕarrāba	feminine
إِشْبِينَة	ʔišbīna	feminine

The term refers to a woman present at the christening of a baby who promises to help raise the child in a Christian manner.

Both عَرَّابَة and إِشْبِينَة are feminine nouns.

ʕarrāba

The word إِشْبِينَة is the feminine form of إِشْبِين, which is also used in Arabic to refer to a 'best man' at a wedding.
While the word عَرَّاب can mean 'godfather', in modern political contexts it is often used to describe a 'kingmaker' or a behind-the-scenes power broker.
In many Arab Christian communities, the godmother's relationship with the child is treated as a lifelong kinship bond, often causing her to be called 'aunt' regardless of blood relation.

هِيَ عَرَّابَةٌ لِابْنَتِي.
hiya 'arrābatun li-ibnatī.
She is the godmother of my daughter.
تَطَلَّبَ الأَمْرُ اخْتِيَارَ عَرَّابَةٍ جَيِّدَةٍ.
taṭallaba al-amru ikhtiyāra 'arrābatin jayyidatin.
It required choosing a good godmother.
أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَكُونَ عَرَّابَةً لِهَذَا الطِّفْلِ.
urīdu an akūna 'arrābatan li-hādhā al-ṭifli.
I want to be the godmother of this child.

Sarah and Omar are discussing the upcoming baptism of their niece.

سارة Sara

من ستكون عَرَّابَة الطفلة؟
Man satakūnu 'arrābatu at-tifla?
Who will be the baby's godmother?
عمر Omar

أعتقد أن خالتها هي الخيار الأفضل.
A'taqidu anna khālatahā hiya al-khiyār al-afdal.
I think her maternal aunt is the best choice.
سارة Sara

نعم، هي تحب الأطفال كثيراً.
Na'am, hiya tuhibbu al-atfāl kathīran.
Yes, she loves children very much.
عمر Omar

سأقوم بدعوتها غداً إذاً.
Sa-aqūmu bi-da'watihā ghadan idhan.
I will invite her tomorrow then.

Sources

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