parrain

French

Etymology

Inherited from Old French parrain, parrein, parrin, from Early Medieval Latin patrīnus (“godfather”), from Latin pater (“father”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa.ʁɛ̃/

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Noun

parrain m (plural parrains, feminine marraine)

1. (religion) godfather; masculine of marraine
2. namer, christener (of a ship)
3. synonym of patron
   1. sponsor, proposer
   2. boss
4. crime boss; godfather

Coordinate terms

• marraine (f)

Derived terms

• parrainé
• parrainer
• parrainage

Related terms

• père
• filleul (“godson”)
• filleule (“goddaughter”)

Descendants

• Haitian Creole: parenn

See also

• compère

Further reading

• “parrain”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012