How do you say goddaughter in Spanish?

Goddaughter in Spanish is ahijada. The masculine equivalent for godson is ahijado. Both terms come from the root word hijo/hija (son/daughter) with the prefix a-.

Compadrazgo is the system of godparenthood deeply rooted in Latin American culture. When you become a godparent, you enter into a lifelong bond not just with your ahijado/a but with the child's parents, who become your compadre and comadre. This creates an extended family network beyond blood relations.

Who are the padrinos in relation to the ahijada?

The padrinos are the godparents: the padrino is the godfather and the madrina is the godmother. Together they assume responsibility for the ahijada's spiritual upbringing and often play an active role in her life during holidays, milestones, and family gatherings.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

God Daughter in Spanish: Ahijada

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Ahijada · noun · ah-ee-HAH-dah

Ahijada is the Spanish word for goddaughter, the female child whose godparents (padrinos) assume a spiritual and often practical role in her life. The relationship between godparent and godchild is especially important in Latin American cultures, where compadrazgo (the godparent system) creates strong bonds between families.

Pronounce ahijada as ah-ee-HAH-dah, with the stress on the third syllable. The h is silent, and the j has a breathy h sound.

Mi ahijada cumple cinco años la próxima semana.

My goddaughter turns five next week.

How Native Speakers Use Ahijada

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Introducing your goddaughter

Te presento a mi ahijada, se llama Valentina.

Let me introduce you to my goddaughter, her name is Valentina.

Ahijada is a term of affection and pride when introducing this important family relationship.

Gift-giving tradition

Le compré un vestido a mi ahijada para su bautizo.

I bought my goddaughter a dress for her baptism.

Godparents traditionally give gifts at baptisms, first communions, and other milestones.

Talking about the relationship

Soy la madrina de tres ahijadas.

I am the godmother of three goddaughters.

Madrina (godmother) and ahijada are the paired terms in this relationship.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Ahijada

Saying hija de Dios for goddaughter

Incorrect: Ella es mi hija de Dios.

Correct: Ella es mi ahijada.

Hija de Dios literally means daughter of God, which has a religious meaning unrelated to godparenthood. The correct term is ahijada, a single word for goddaughter.

Confusing ahijada with hijada

Incorrect: Mi hijada vive en otra ciudad.

Correct: Mi ahijada vive en otra ciudad.

Hijada is not a standard Spanish word. Ahijada is the correct term, with the a- prefix distinguishing it from hija (daughter).

Lock in God Daughter Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Ahijada used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using ahijada in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Mi ahijada cumple cinco años la próxima semana. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About God Daughter in Spanish

How do you say goddaughter in Spanish?: Goddaughter in Spanish is ahijada. The masculine equivalent for godson is ahijado. Both terms come from the root word hijo/hija (son/daughter) with the prefix a-.
What is compadrazgo?: Compadrazgo is the system of godparenthood deeply rooted in Latin American culture. When you become a godparent, you enter into a lifelong bond not just with your ahijado/a but with the child's parents, who become your compadre and comadre. This creates an extended family network beyond blood relations.
Who are the padrinos in relation to the ahijada?: The padrinos are the godparents: the padrino is the godfather and the madrina is the godmother. Together they assume responsibility for the ahijada's spiritual upbringing and often play an active role in her life during holidays, milestones, and family gatherings.