noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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General-American:/ˈɡɑdˌt͡ʃaɪld/
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈɡɒdˌt͡ʃaɪld/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent. In some cases the relationship is maintained indefinitely, with the godchild being treated much like a niece or nephew.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Mary stood as godmother for little Emily, her godchild.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
an infant who is sponsored by an adult (the godparent) at baptism
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: baby, babe, infant
Narrower terms: goddaughter, godson
History
Etymology
From god- + child.
Across languages
Translations
48 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Albanian:
famull
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Albanian:
fijan
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Armenian:
սան
(san)
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Armenian:
սանիկ
(sanik)
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Central Bikol:
pinangaki
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Bulgarian:
кръщелник
(krǎštelnik)
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Chinese Mandarin:
教子
(jiàozǐ)
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Danish:
gudbarn
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Dutch:
petekind
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Esperanto:
baptogefilo
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Estonian:
ristilaps
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Finnish:
kummilapsi
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Galician:
afillado
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Galician:
afillada
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Georgian:
ნათლული
(natluli)
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
German:
Patenkind
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Greek:
βαφτισιμιός
(vaftisimiós)
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Greek:
αναδεκτός
(anadektós)
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Greek:
αναδεξιμιός
(anadeximiós)
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Hungarian:
keresztgyerek
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Hungarian:
keresztgyermek
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Ido:
baptofilio
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Indonesian:
anak baptis
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Ingrian:
ristilaps
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Latvian:
krustbērns
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Macedonian:
крштеник
(krštenik)
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Macedonian:
кумче
(kumče)
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Polish:
chrześniak
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Polish:
chrześniaczka
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Polish:
chrześnica
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Portuguese:
afilhado
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Portuguese:
afilhada
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Romansh:
figliol
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Romansh:
figlioul
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Russian:
кре́стник
(kréstnik)
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Russian:
кре́стница
(kréstnica)
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Serbo-Croatian:
kumče
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Slovak:
krstňa
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Spanish:
ahijado
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Spanish:
ahijada
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Swedish:
gudbarn
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Tagalog:
inaanak
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Volapük:
spönäb
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Volapük:
hispönäb
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Volapük:
jispönäb
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Volapük:
spönacil
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Volapük:
spönahicil
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent
Volapük:
spönajicil
— a child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent