[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/paternal/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [P](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/p/) / paternal

# paternal

adjective (paternal)

«paternal» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Like a father or to do with being a father: caring and protective. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paternal/#m1)
2. Related through your father: "my paternal grandmother" is your father's mother. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paternal/#m2)

### In the lessons

In family trees, paternal relatives are on your father's side; maternal relatives are on your mother's side. In science, some animals show paternal care, like male seahorses carrying the eggs. In stories, a paternal teacher or king cares for others like a father.

### Examples

- My paternal grandparents live in Scotland. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paternal/#x1)
- Male seahorses show amazing paternal care. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paternal/#x2)
- The old captain had a paternal feeling for his young crew. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paternal/#x3)
- Paternal leave lets dads stay at home with a new baby. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paternal/#x4)
- My paternal aunt is my dad's sister. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paternal/#x5)
- Emperor penguin fathers are very paternal; they keep the egg warm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paternal/#x6)
- As the father of men, he takes a paternal interest in the actions and well-being of mortals. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paternal/#x7)

### Note

Opposite side: maternal (mother's side). Noun: paternity (being a father; paternity leave). Paternal is an adjective; you cannot say "a paternal" as a noun.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «paternal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paternal/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«paternal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/paternal.html) on Mova free.