paternidad
“paternidad” means “fatherhood” in Spanish (the state or experience of being a father).
fatherhood
Also: paternity
📝 In Action
La paternidad ha cambiado su forma de ver la vida.
B1Fatherhood has changed his way of seeing life.
Él solicitó una prueba de paternidad.
B2He requested a paternity test.
Muchos hombres disfrutan hoy de una baja por paternidad más larga.
C1Many men today enjoy a longer paternity leave.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: paternidad
Question 1 of 3
Which article should you use with 'paternidad'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'paternitas', which comes from 'pater' (father). It follows the standard evolution of Latin '-tas' becoming Spanish '-dad'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'paternidad' only refer to biological fathers?
While it often refers to biological links (especially in legal contexts), it is also used broadly to describe the emotional and social experience of being a father, including for adoptive parents.
Is there a word for 'fatherliness'?
Yes, 'paternidad' can cover this, but the adjective 'paternal' is often used to describe fatherly traits, like 'amor paternal' (fatherly love).
Why is it feminine if it's about men?
In Spanish, the grammatical gender of a word is determined by its ending, not by the gender of the person it describes. All -dad words are feminine.