2 syllables: pa, dre. Stress on pa.
PAD-ray
/ˈpæˌdɹeɪ/
padre is pronounced PAD-ray (/ˈpæˌdɹeɪ/). It has two syllables (pa-dre), with the stress on "pa". Padre is a loanword used in Spanish and some English-speaking communities to mean father, priest, or a respected elder. It can also appear as an informal term of address in Latin American communities. In English contexts it’s typically used in cross-cultural or literary references, often with a Spanish accent; in Spanish it carries gendered masculine form and cultural nuance tied to family or religious roles.
Padre is a loanword used in Spanish and some English-speaking communities to mean father, priest, or a respected elder. It can also appear as an informal term of address in Latin American communities. In English contexts it’s typically used in cross-cultural or literary references, often with a Spanish accent; in Spanish it carries gendered masculine form and cultural nuance tied to family or religious roles.
- You might stress the second syllable (pa-DRE) by habit from English words; keep the stress on the first syllable: PA-dre. - The r should be brief; using a hard English 'r' or a rolling trill slows you down and sounds unnatural. Use a light alveolar flap. - Final vowel: avoid pronouncing a full long 'ee' or 'ay' after the ‘e’; keep it as a short 'e' or schwa-like sound depending on accent. - In some contexts, you might over-articulate the 'd' or overemphasize it; instead, let it blend smoothly between syllables for natural rhythm. - Practice with minimal pairs to keep your first syllable distinct but not exaggerated.
"• Mi padre siempre me enseñó a ser responsable."
"• El padre del niño es un hombre muy cariñoso."
"• En la liturgia, el padre pronuncia juramento de fidelidad."
Padre is pronounced PAH-dray in General American and many Spanish-influenced contexts. The stress falls on the first syllable: ˈpæ.dre in English transliteration when approximated; in natural Spanish it’s ˈpa.dɾe with a rolled or tapped r and a clear e at the end. For US English listeners, aim for PAH-dray with a short, crisp d and a crisp final e; in US, the American speaker might non-rhotically pronounce the r in ‘padre’ as a single alveolar tap. IPA guidance: US/UK/AU approximations: US: /ˈpɑː.dɾe/; UK: /ˈpɑː.dɹe/; AU: /ˈpɑː.dɹe/.”,
Common mistakes include: 1) syllable stress on the second syllable (pa-DRE) instead of first; 2) substituting a hard ‘r’ or a trill where a tapped or lightly flapped r is more natural in American English; 3) overpronouncing the final vowel into a full ‘ee’ sound. Correction tips: keep stress on the first syllable, use a light alveolar tap for the r, and keep the final ‘e’ as a pure short ‘e’ or ‘ay’ sound depending on the accent. Practice short, clear pauses between syllables: PA-dre.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˈpæ.dɚ/ or /ˈpɑː.dɹe/ with a tapped or approximant r and a short, lax final vowel; in UK English, many speakers lean toward /ˈpɑː.dre/ with a non-rhotic approach on r in formal speech, but some say /ˈpæd.ɹe/ in casual contexts. Australian speakers often approximate /ˈpæ.dɹe/ or /ˈpɑː.dɹe/ with non-rhoticity and a sharper final vowel. Key differences: rhoticity and vowel quality in the first syllable, and how the final r behaves.
Padre blends a Spanish r with an English syllable structure. The r is tapped or approximant; learners often mispronounce it as a strong rolling r or with a silent final e. In some accents, the second syllable tends to carry a clearer vowel than the first, and the initial vowel can drift toward /æ/ or /ɑː/. The challenge is coordinating the alveolar tongue position for the r with a short, clean vowel to avoid a conflated sound.
A unique aspect is the alveolar tap/flap r in many pronunciations; many learners expect a full trill, which changes the word’s rhythm. Also the vowel in the first syllable can vary widely: /æ/ (as in cat) in American contexts or /ɑː/ in some British or Spanish-influenced contexts. Also note the final dipped vowel in rapid speech: the final e often reduces toward a quick /ɪ/ or /ə/ in casual speech.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "padre"!
- US: /ˈpæ.dɚ/ or /ˈpɑ.dɚ/ with a rhotic exit; keep the first vowel tense but not overly long; lower jaw slightly and keep the tongue relaxed. - UK: /ˈpɑː.dre/ with non-rhotic r; the second syllable may sound like /dre/ with a clearer 'd' and 'r' sound more devoiced; expect a longer first vowel, sometimes closer to /ɑː/. - AU: /ˈpæ.dɹe/ or /ˈpɑː.dɹe/ with non-rhotic tendencies for r, and a more open, bright second vowel; the second syllable r is often lightly pronounced. IPA references: US /ˈpæ.dɚ/; UK /ˈpɑː.dɹe/; AU /ˈpæ.dɹe/.
Padre originates from the Spanish word padre meaning father, which itself comes from the Latin word pater, with the diminutive and affectionate connotations amplified by the -e ending in some contexts. The Latin pater is related to the Greek patēr and is connected to a broad family of Indo-European terms for father. In Romance languages, padre underwent semantic specialization: in Spanish it means father; as a loanword in English, padre often carries religious or cultural connotations tied to Catholic contexts or to Spanish-speaking communities. The transition into English usage increased during the 19th and 20th centuries with bilingual literature, cross-cultural interactions, and the influence of Latin American culture in the United States. Today, padre is commonly encountered in dictionaries as a loanword meaning father, priest, or a respectful elder, and it can be used humorously or affectionately in social speech, though stylistic tone may imply familiarity or formality depending on context.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "padre" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "padre" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "padre" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "padre"
-dre sounds
-der sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
