Theotokos

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/θiːˈɒtəˌkɒs//ˌθeɪoʊˈtoʊkoʊs/

proper noun

Synonym of Mary, mother of Jesus, in particular reference to her role giving birth to God.

Similar
DeiparaMother of GodMarymother of Jesusin particular reference to her role giving birth to God
UncommonScrabble 16

Meanings

proper noun(the) Theotokos

alternative Theotocos

  1. chiefly OrthodoxyChristianitySynonym of Mary, mother of Jesus, in particular reference to her role giving birth to God.
    1 more example

    It is then an integral portion of the Faith fixed by Ecumenical Council, a portion of it which you hold as well as I, that the Blessed Virgin is Theotocos, Deipara, or Mother of God; and this word, when thus used, carries with it no admixture of rhetoric, no taint of extravagant affection,—it has nothing else but a well-weighed, grave, dogmatic sense […]

    1866, John Henry Newman, D.D., A Letter to the Rev. E. B. Pusey, D.D. on His Recent Eirenicon, London: Longmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer, page 66

    Synonyms: Deipara, Mother of God, Mary, mother of Jesus, in particular reference to her role giving birth to God

Synonyms & antonyms

proper nounSynonym of Mary, mother of Jesus, in particular reference to her role giving birth to God.

Similar
DeiparaMother of GodMarymother of Jesusin particular reference to her role giving birth to God

Origin

  1. Ancient GreekΘεός“God”
  2. Koine GreekΘεοτόκος“the God-bearer”
  3. EnglishTheotokos

Borrowed from Koine Greek Θεοτόκος (Theotókos, “the God-bearer”), from Ancient Greek Θεός (Theós, “God”) + τόκος (tókos, “childbirth”). First attested in 3rd–4th century. Cf. Christotokos.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic والدة الإله, ام الاله
  • والدة الإله (Wālidatu l-ʔIlāhi)Mary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
  • ام الاله (ʔUmmu l-ʔIlāhi)Mary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
Bulgarian Богоро́дица
  • Богоро́дица (Bogoródica)Mary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
Estonian Jumalasünnitaja
  • JumalasünnitajaMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
Finnish Jumalansynnyttäjä
  • JumalansynnyttäjäMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
French Théotokos
  • ThéotokosMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
German Gottesgebärerin
  • GottesgebärerinMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
Greek Θεοτόκος
  • Θεοτόκος (Theotókos)Mary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
Hungarian Istenszülő, Theotokosz
  • IstenszülőMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
  • TheotokoszMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
Italian Teotoco, Teotoca
  • TeotocoMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
  • TeotocaMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
Latin Deipara, Dei Genitrix
  • DeiparaMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
  • Dei GenitrixMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
  • TheotocusMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
Polish Bogurodzica, Bogarodzica
  • BogurodzicaMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
  • BogarodzicaMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
Portuguese Teótoco, Deípara
  • TeótocoMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
  • DeíparaMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
Russian Богоро́дица
  • Богоро́дица (Bogoródica)Mary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
Slovak Bohorodička
  • BohorodičkaMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
Spanish Deípara
  • DeíparaMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
Swedish gudaföderska
  • gudaföderskaMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
Turkish Tanrı'yı Doğuran, Tanrı'nın Anası
  • Tanrı'yı DoğuranMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
  • Tanrı'nın AnasıMary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
Ukrainian Богоро́диця
  • Богоро́диця (Bohoródycja)Mary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.
Cite this entry
APA

Theotokos. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Theotokos

MLA

“Theotokos.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Theotokos. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Theotokos,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Theotokos.

Source: Theotokos on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.