madrasta
/maˈdɾas.tɐ/feminine
The English phrase "stepmother" is translated into Portuguese as madrasta.
The word refers to the wife of one's biological father, who is not one's biological mother.
Meaning: wife of one's biological father, not one's biological mother (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
Both madrasta and padrasta are common terms used in both Portugal and Brazil to refer to a stepmother.
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the plural, add an -s to the end: madrastas.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /maˈdɾas.tɐ/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd of 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- Because madrasta sounds so negative, many Brazilians avoid the word entirely and use mãe do coração to describe a beloved stepmother.
- The word madrasta comes from the Late Latin mātrastra, which was created by adding a suffix to māter to denote a 'false' or 'imperfect' mother.
- In many Portuguese-speaking cultures, calling a woman madrasta can carry a heavy negative connotation of being a villain or cruel, a sentiment heavily reinforced by classic fairy tales.
Examples in context
- É a minha madrasta.She's my stepmother.This sentence is useful for identifying a stepmother.Tatoeba #5008704 by alexmarcelo, translation #2282059 by Hybrid
- Eu tenho uma madrasta.I have a stepmother.This sentence is useful for stating that you have a stepmother.Tatoeba #5211954 by alexmarcelo, translation #6330758 by carlosalberto
- Esta é minha madrasta.This is my stepmother.This sentence is useful for introducing your stepmother.Tatoeba #10794337 by bill, translation #10701248 by AlanF_US
- Conheço minha madrasta há muitos anos. Ela é uma mulher incrível.I have known my stepmother for many years. She's an amazing woman.
- Maria é minha padrasta e sempre foi muito cuidadosa e atenciosa comigo.Maria is my stepmother, and she has always been caring and attentive towards me.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Juliana and Rodrigo are talking about family during lunch.
- JulianaA sua madrasta é muito simpática.Your stepmother is very kind.
- RodrigoSim, ela é uma ótima pessoa.Yes, she is a great person.
- JulianaFico feliz que você tenha uma madrasta legal.I'm happy you have a cool stepmother.
- RodrigoObrigado, Juliana.Thanks, Juliana.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stepmother” translations and entries madrasta, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries madrasta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
