Word
paternal
Phoneticspa·ter·nal, stress on the second syllable
US/pəˈtɝnəɫ/
UK/pətˈɜːnəl/
Españolpaterno
Definition
adj. related to being a father or coming from the father's side of the family.
adj. relating to or characteristic of a father; inherited from or related through the male parent.
Examples
“He felt a paternal urge to protect his younger brother.”
“She spent every summer visiting her paternal grandparents at their farm in the countryside.”
“The manager took a paternal interest in his employees' careers, often offering personal advice that went far beyond the requirements of their professional contracts.”
Examples
simple
“He felt a paternal urge to protect his younger brother.”
contextual
“She spent every summer visiting her paternal grandparents at their farm in the countryside.”
complex
“The manager took a paternal interest in his employees' careers, often offering personal advice that went far beyond the requirements of their professional contracts.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun; often contrasted with 'maternal'.
Real-World Examples
“And he needed too: there is something almost paternal about him and they had the youth that he wanted to lead, to guide.” “Zareh, which opened in Melbourne in August 2025, is named after Sarafian’s paternal grandfather.” Etymology
From Old French paternal (“of a father”) (12th c.), from Vulgar Latin paternālis (“paternal”), from Latin paternus (“of or pertaining to a father, paternal”), from pater (“father”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/paternal
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0