padre

[ pah-drey, -dree; Spanish pah-thre; Italian pah-dre ]

noun

, plural pa·dres [pah, -dreyz, -dreez, pah, -, th, r, es], pa·dri [pah, -d, r, ee].

1. father (used especially in addressing or referring to a priest or member of the clergy).
2. a chaplain in military or naval service.

padre

/ ˈpɑːdrɪ /

noun

1. father: used to address or refer to a clergyman, esp a priest
2. a chaplain to the armed forces

Word History and Origins

Origin of padre¹

1575–85; < Spanish, Portuguese, Italian: father < Latin pater

Word History and Origins

Origin of padre¹

via Spanish or Italian from Latin pater father

Example Sentences

It’s where the padres of the San Gabriel mission lived for a time, and it’s reputedly where the first orange seedlings in California were planted.

From Los Angeles Times

In fact, Verdugo said, the padre is in the habit of giving away things that are gifted to him.

From Los Angeles Times

After running a routine check for arrest warrants, they quickly realized they were face to face with what so many had been searching for — the alleged pilfering padre.

From Los Angeles Times

“But my parents … mi padres … they told me to learn English,” she explains.

From Los Angeles Times

The padre had always had a warm spot for the young man with a sly sense of humor and delicate “LA” tattooed beside his left eye.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bishop
• chaplain
• cleric
• evangelist
• missionary
• pastor
• pontiff
• preacher
• priest
• rabbi