comadres/copadres

Question

I thought the word "comadre" signified women who share similar values, lives, etc. But this dictionary defines is as midwife, godmother, gossip, neighbor, or "pansy"

Answer 1

Hi: In México, when you become godfatherof a child, you automatically become compadre of the child. It has the meaning of co-father in the way that you share the religious responsability. For the women, the equivalent term is comadre (doesn't need two "m".)

But, in day-to-day language, comadre also means "my best friend" since that you will generally ask a close friend to become godmotherif you do not ask a relative.

And of course, the same word can be used for gossip or in pejorative way by anyone.

Answer 2

Copadre is not a word. The closest and I guess the one you mean is "compadre".

You can always go to the R.A.E. to lookup for a word if you doubt the site's dictionary.

Comadre

Answer 3

godfather, godmother but they use it as a greeting too between friends.