A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "My godmother" in Spanish
Learn 'mi madrina' to refer to your godmother in Spanish, a special family role.
mi madrina
mee mah-DREE-nahneutral
Spanish TTS · 0:01
Use this phrase when talking about your godmother, perhaps when introducing her or discussing family events. It's common when explaining family relationships.
Alternatives
- mi comadreUsed for the mother of your godchild, or a close female friend.
- mi madrina de bautizoMore specific if you need to clarify it's for baptism.
Ways to get it wrong
Madrina vs. Padrino
Remember 'madrina' is female; 'padrino' is the male equivalent (godfather).
Mis madrinas
Use 'mis madrinas' if you have more than one godmother.
A small cultural note
Godparents often play a significant role in a child's life, sometimes acting as a second parent or a spiritual guide.
When you'd actually say this
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Explaining a photo at a family gathering
You're sitting at the kitchen table with your partner, flipping through a photo album your aunt brought out after dinner. You point to a woman in a pale blue dress standing next to you at your first communion. 'Esa es mi madrina — she flew in from Guadalajara just for that day.'
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Calling to confirm quinceañera seating
You're on the phone with the event coordinator, a clipboard in your hand, going through the head-table list. You need to confirm that the seat next to your mother is reserved: 'El lugar junto a mi mamá es para mi madrina — she's the one who's paying for the dress.'
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Introducing her at the hospital
A nurse stops you in the maternity ward hallway and asks who the woman beside you is before letting her through. You turn and say, 'Es mi madrina,' and the nurse nods and waves you both past the double doors.
Related ways to say it in Spanish
- mi madrina de confirmación — my confirmation godmother
- Use when you need to distinguish this godmother from a baptism godmother, since some people have different sponsors for each sacrament.
- mi madrina de bodas — my wedding sponsor
- Common in Mexican and Central American weddings where a 'madrina de bodas' sponsors a specific item like the bouquet or cake — a distinct role from a baptism godmother.
- mi nana — my godmother / my nanny (affectionate)
- Used informally in some Andean and Caribbean regions as a warm address for a godmother who raised or closely cared for you; more intimate than 'madrina' and regionally specific.
- mi madrina de pila — my baptismal godmother
- Heard in formal or religious contexts in Spain and parts of South America; 'pila' refers to the baptismal font, making this more precise than the everyday 'madrina'.
Notes for English speakers
- English speakers often stress the first syllable — 'MAH-dree-nah' — by analogy with 'mother', but the stress falls on the second syllable: 'mah-DREE-nah'; getting this wrong can make the word sound clipped and unnatural.
- The possessive 'mi' never changes for gender in Spanish, so you don't need to adjust it the way you might expect — it's always 'mi madrina', never 'mia madrina', even though 'madrina' is feminine.
- In many Latin American families, 'madrina' extends well beyond the religious sense: a woman can be called your madrina for a graduation, a quinceañera, or even a business opening, so don't assume the word always implies a baptism or Catholic context.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
what is a madrina in spanish?
A 'madrina' is a godmother, typically chosen for a child's baptism or confirmation. She has a special spiritual and sometimes familial role.
how to say my godfather in spanish?
Your godfather is 'mi padrino'. 'Padrino' is the male counterpart to 'madrina'.
what is the difference between madrina and comadre?
A 'madrina' is your godmother, while a 'comadre' is the mother of your godchild or a very close female friend.
