Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| matka chrzestna | /ˈmat.ka ˈxʂɛst.na/ | |
| chrzestna | /ˈxʂɛst.na/ | feminine |
The term refers to a woman present at a baby's christening who commits to helping raise the child in a Christian manner.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase matka chrzestna is composed of matka, meaning mother and chrzestna, which is an adjective derived from chrzest, meaning christening or baptism.
Which one should you use?
matka chrzestna is the full, formal phrase, while the single word chrzestna is a common, shortened way to refer to a godmother.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
matka chrzestna is used in formal contexts or official documents. In casual conversation, you might use the shortened chrzestna or even the informal term ciocia to refer to a godmother in a familiar and affectionate manner.
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing possession or using certain prepositions, the form changes to matki chrzestnej.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈmat.ka ˈxʂɛst.na/. The stress is on the first of the four syllables.
Did you know?
- The term matka chrzestna translates literally as 'baptismal mother'.
- In Poland, godparents are often addressed as ciocia 'aunt' or wujek 'uncle' even if they have no biological relation to the child.
- Polish culture traditionally views the role of matka chrzestna as a lifelong spiritual bond rather than just a ceremonial title for a baby's christening.
Examples in context
- To moja matka chrzestna.She's my godmother.This sentence is useful for introducing your matka chrzestna.Tatoeba #981806 by silvermane, translation #981804 by CK
- Cześć, moja chrzestna! Jak się masz?Hello, my godmother! How are you?
- Dzisiaj jest ważny dzień. Z tej okazji chciałbym podziękować mojej matce chrzestnej za wsparcie.Today is an important day. On this occasion, I would like to thank my godmother for her support.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “godmother” translations and entries matka chrzestna, chrzestna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chrzestna, matka, matka chrzestna, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
