Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Padre in English: Father, Dad, Parent
Father · noun (masculine) · PAH-dreh
Padre in English means father. In the plural, padres means parents (both mother and father). Padre is the formal word; papá is the informal equivalent, like dad. In Mexican slang, ¡qué padre! means how cool! — a completely different usage.
Padre is PAH-dreh, two syllables with the stress on PAH. The d between vowels is soft, almost like the English th in this.
Mi padre trabaja como ingeniero desde hace veinte años.
My father has worked as an engineer for twenty years.
Padre in English in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for padre in english, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| father | padre in english | PAH-dreh | Default, widely understood |
| dad | padre in english | informal English equivalent | |
| parent | padre in english | padres (plural) means parents in general |
How Native Speakers Use Father
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Formal reference to father
El padre de María es profesor universitario.
María's father is a university professor.
Padre is the formal, respectful term for father in all Spanish-speaking countries.
Parents (plural)
Mis padres vinieron de Cuba en los años ochenta.
My parents came from Cuba in the eighties.
Padres in the plural means parents, including both mother and father.
Mexican slang: cool
¡Qué padre está tu carro nuevo!
Your new car is so cool!
In Mexico, padre as an adjective means cool or awesome. This usage is informal and not understood in other countries.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Father
Using padre when you mean papá in casual speech
Incorrect: Hola, padre, ¿cómo estás? (in casual conversation)
Correct: Hola, papá, ¿cómo estás?
Padre is formal and can sound distant when talking directly to your dad. Papá is the warm, informal term most people use with their own father.
Assuming padres always means fathers
Incorrect: Mis padres son Juan y Pedro. (meaning two fathers)
Correct: Mis padres son Juan y María. (meaning parents)
Padres as a default means parents (mother and father), not two fathers. If you specifically mean two fathers, context or clarification is needed.
Lock in Padre in English Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Father used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using father in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Mi padre trabaja como ingeniero desde hace veinte años. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Padre in English in Spanish
- What does padre mean in English?
- Padre means father in English. In the plural, padres means parents. In Mexican slang, padre can also mean cool or awesome, as in ¡qué padre! (how cool!).
- What is the difference between padre and papá?
- Padre is formal — used in writing, official documents, and respectful speech. Papá is informal and affectionate — what you call your dad in everyday conversation. The distinction parallels English father versus dad.
- Does padre mean priest?
- In religious contexts, padre is used as a title for Catholic priests, just as father is in English. Padre José, for example, is Father José. The word draws from the same root but the context makes the meaning clear.