padre
“padre” means “father” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
father
Also: parents
📝 In Action
Mi padre es profesor.
A1My father is a teacher.
Voy a visitar a mis padres este fin de semana.
A2I'm going to visit my parents this weekend.
Él es un buen padre de familia.
B1He is a good family man.
priest
Also: Father
📝 In Action
El padre dio la misa del domingo.
B1The priest gave the Sunday mass.
Necesito hablar con el Padre Francisco.
B1I need to speak with Father Francisco.
cool
Also: great, neat
📝 In Action
¡Qué padre está tu chamarra!
B2Your jacket is so cool!
El concierto estuvo padrísimo.
B2The concert was awesome.
Me la pasé muy padre en la fiesta.
C1I had a really great time at the party.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: padre
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'padre' to mean 'cool'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word 'pater,' which also meant 'father.' This Latin root is the ancestor of father-words in many European languages.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'padre' and 'papá'?
'Padre' is more formal, like 'father' in English. 'Papá' is what most people call their dad in everyday, affectionate conversation, just like 'dad' or 'daddy'. You would write 'Estimado padre' (Dear father) in a formal letter, but you would call him 'papá' on the phone.
If 'los padres' means 'parents', how do I say 'the fathers'?
You also say 'los padres'. Spanish uses the masculine plural form for a group of all men or a mixed-gender group. You have to rely on the context to know the difference. For example, 'Los padres de la novia' (The bride's parents) means mother and father, but 'Todos los hombres allí son padres' means 'All the men there are fathers'.
Is it okay to use 'padre' to mean 'cool' in Spain or Argentina?
It's best not to. While many people might understand it from Mexican TV shows, it's not a natural part of their daily slang. It will make you sound like you're specifically using Mexican Spanish. In Spain, they'd say 'guay', and in Argentina, they might say 'copado'.