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patriarca

patriarch

noun pah-TRYAHR-kah Rare

Origin: from Greek patriarkhēs, 'father-ruler'

Usage Note

Patriarca is masculine despite ending in -a, a pattern shared with profeta, poeta, and papa. It denotes the male head of a family, tribe, or religious community. The abstract noun is patriarcado (patriarchy) and the adjective is patriarcal.

Examples

"El patriarca reunió a toda la familia."

Natural Translation

The patriarch gathered the whole family.

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