Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| madrina | /maˈdɾina/ | feminine |
| comadre | /koˈmadɾe/ | feminine |
A godmother is a woman present at the christening of a baby who promises to help raise the child in a Christian manner. While madrina refers to the woman who is the godmother to a child, comadre is the term used by the child's parents to address her, signifying their spiritual kinship.
Which one should you use?
madrina refers to the woman who is the godmother to a child, whereas comadre is the term used by the child's parents to address her.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form of madrina is padrino (godfather). The plural form is madrinas. The term for a female godchild is ahijada.
How do you pronounce it?
/maˈdɾina/
When do people say it?
comadre is the term used by the child's parents to address her, signifying their spiritual kinship. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, comadre is used colloquially as a term of endearment or familiarity between women, even if they do not share a godparent relationship.
Did you know?
- The word madrina is used in Spanish to describe a 'sponsor' of an event or a woman who christens a ship, extending far beyond the religious context.
- In traditional rural communities, the choice of a madrina can be a strategic move to build political or economic bridges between two different families.
- In some Latin American cultures, the bond of comadrazgo is considered a formal social contract that creates a lifelong alliance between the parents and the godparents.
Examples in context
- Ella es mi madrina.She's my godmother.This sentence illustrates how to identify someone as your godmother.Tatoeba #1086335 by hayastan, translation #981804 by CK
- Mi hermana es la madrina de mi hija.My sister is my daughter's godmother.This sentence shows how to state that someone is the godmother of a specific person.Tatoeba #992432 by Shishir, translation #1103733 by elmetal
- La madrina preparó una deliciosa tarta.The godmother baked a delicious cake.This sentence uses the word to describe an action performed by the godmother.Tatoeba #1948287 by teskmon, translation #818046 by Cindrogriza
- Mi madrina me regaló un hermoso libroMy godmother gave me a beautiful book
- Mi madrina espiritual me acompaña en mi camino de feMy spiritual godmother accompanies me on my faith journey
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are discussing a family event.
- MateoSofía, ¿quieres ser la madrina de mi hijo?Sofía, do you want to be my son's godmother?
- Sofía¡Claro que sí, Mateo! Me encantaría.Of course, Mateo! I would love to.
- MateoSerás una madrina excelente para él.You will be an excellent godmother to him.
- SofíaGracias, prometo cuidar siempre de su bienestar.Thank you, I promise to always care for his well-being.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “godmother” translations and entries madrina, comadre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
