paternal
pəˈtɜːrnəl
Definition Synonyms

Definition of paternal - Reverso English Dictionary

Adjective

1.
fatherlyshowing care and affection like a father
  • His paternal instincts kicked in immediately.
fatherly protective
2.
familyTECH.relating to a father or his side of the familyTECH.
  • He has a strong paternal resemblance.
fatherly patriarchal
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Expressions with paternal

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wife of one's father's brother
My paternal aunt and uncle celebrated their anniversary.
father of one's father
My paternal grandfather was a farmer.
the mother of one's father
Every summer, we visit my paternal grandmother in her countryside home.
the kindness and protectiveness typical of a father
His paternal quality made everyone feel safe.
father's brother or brother-in-law
My paternal uncle visited us during the holidays.
legal guardianship by a father
After the divorce, he was granted paternal custody of the children..

Origin of paternal

Latin, pater (father) + -alis (pertaining to)

Terms with paternal included in their meaning

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family therapy
relationship difficulties and distress linked to harmful paternal experiences
doubleadj.
family relationship
related on both maternal and paternal sides
family
cousin related on both maternal and paternal sides
family
lineage traced through both maternal and paternal ancestors
descent
involving descent through both maternal and paternal lineage
ancestry
tracing descent from either the paternal or maternal line only
paternal kin
relative from the father's side
paternal uncle
father's elder brother in a family

Examples of paternal in a sentence

  • Her paternal advice was always comforting.
  • His paternal instincts were evident when he held the baby.
  • She inherited her paternal grandfather's watch.

View all translations of paternal

Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:paternel, du côté paternel, ...
  2. German:väterlich, väterlicherseits, ...
  3. Italian:paterno, ...
  4. Spanish:paternal, ...
  5. Portuguese:paternal, do lado paterno, ...
  6. Chinese:慈父般, 父亲的, ...
  7. Japanese:父親のような, 父親の, ...
  8. Arabic:أَبَوِيّ, ...
  9. Hebrew:אַבְהִי, אָבָהִי, ...
  10. Russian:отцовский, по отцовской линии, ...
  11. Ukrainian:батьківський, по-батьківськи, ...
  12. Hindi:पिता-समान, पितृसंबंधी, ...

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