Word 'godmother' in Other Languages
- godmother in Assamese অসমীয়া
- godmother in Bengali বাংলা
- godmother in Bodo बड़ो
- godmother in Dogri डोगरी
- godmother in English
- godmother in Gujarati ગુજરાતી
- godmother in Hindi हिन्दी
- godmother in Kannada ಕನ್ನಡ
- godmother in Kashmiri कॉशुर
- godmother in Konkani कोंकणी
- godmother in Maithili মৈথিলী
- godmother in Malayalam മലയാളം
- godmother in Manipuri মৈতৈলোন্
- godmother in Marathi मराठी
- godmother in Nepali नेपाली
- godmother in Oriya ଓଡ଼ିଆ
- godmother in Punjabi ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
- godmother in Sanskrit संस्कृतम्
- godmother in Santali
- godmother in Sindhi سنڌي
- godmother in Tamil தமிழ்
- godmother in Telugu తెలుగు
- godmother in Urdu اُردُو
godmother
Part of Speech
Noun
Pronunciation
/ˈɡɒdˌmʌð.ər/ (British English), /ˈɡɑːdˌmʌð.ɚ/ (American English)
Definitions
- A woman who sponsors a child at baptism, assuming responsibility for their spiritual upbringing.
- A mentor or influential woman who provides guidance and support.
- In folklore, a fairy godmother is a magical being who helps a protagonist.
Usage Examples
- My godmother gave me a beautiful necklace for my birthday.
- She was like a godmother to the young artists, helping them find opportunities.
- The fairy godmother waved her wand and transformed the pumpkin into a carriage.
Etymology
Derived from Old English "godmōdor," meaning "spiritual mother," combining "god" + "mother."
Synonyms
- Guardian
- Mentor
- Patron
- Fairy godmother
Antonyms
- Godfather (male counterpart)
- Oppressor
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | madrina | /maˈðɾina/ |
| French | marraine | /ma.ʁɛn/ |
| German | Patentante | /ˈpaːtəˌtantə/ |
| Russian | крёстная мать (kryostnaya mat') | /ˈkrʲɵs.nəjə matʲ/ |
| Hindi | धर्म माता (dharm maata) | /dʱərm maːtaː/ |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 教母 (jiàomǔ) | /tɕi̯ɑ̂u̯.mu/ |
| Japanese | 代母 (daibo) | /dai.bo/ |
| Korean | 대모 (daemo) | /tɛ.mo/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
- British English: /ˈɡɒdˌmʌð.ər/
- American English: /ˈɡɑːdˌmʌð.ɚ/
- Australian English: /ˈɡɒdˌmʌð.ə/
Historical Usage
The term "godmother" has been used since medieval times in Christian traditions, where godparents play a vital role in a child's religious upbringing.
Cultural Nuances
In Western cultures, a godmother is a ceremonial figure in Christian baptisms. In fairy tales, a fairy godmother often grants magical assistance to protagonists.
More Information
Godmothers play an important role in many cultures, from religious mentors to figures of protection and guidance. The concept is also widely popularized in folklore and literature.