ahijado
/aiˈxado/masculine
The Spanish word for godson is ahijado.
ahijado refers to a male child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent.
Meaning: Male child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent. (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ahijado specifically refers to a male godchild, it is the standard term used to refer to a godchild of unspecified gender in a general context.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of the noun is ahijada. The masculine plural form ahijados is used for a group of godsons or a mixed-gender group of godchildren.
How do you pronounce it?
/aiˈxado/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the bond between a godparent and ahijado is considered a 'compadrazgo'. This creates a formal kinship bond between the parents and the godparents, who call each other compadre and comadre.
- The word ahijado shares the same root as the Spanish word for 'hijastro', which means 'stepchild'.
- In certain historical contexts, naming someone as an ahijado was used by the elite to create a network of loyalty and political patronage known as 'clientelism'.
Examples in context
- Tu ahijado es un niño tan alegre.Your godson is such a joyful child.
- Mi ahijado es muy inteligente.My godson is very intelligent.
- Él es mi ahijado favorito.He is my favorite godson.
- Compré un regalo para mi ahijado.I bought a gift for my godson.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are talking about family photos.
- Alejandro¿Quién es el niño en esta foto?Who is the boy in this photo?
- ElenaÉl es mi ahijado, Luis.He is my godson, Luis.
- AlejandroSe ve muy feliz en la imagen.He looks very happy in the picture.
- ElenaSí, es un niño muy alegre.Yes, he is a very cheerful boy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “godson” translations and entries ahijado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ahijado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
