What does infante mean?
Infante is an uncommon English noun with two distinct associations. Its literary sense means a baby or very young child, comparable to the more usual word “infant.” More distinctively, it is a traditional title used in Spain and Portugal for a male child of the reigning monarch, especially a prince; it also appeared in the naming conventions of their former overseas kingdoms. In royal contexts, the word is commonly capitalized, as in “the Infante of Spain.” The term is therefore not normally chosen when a modern English speaker simply wants to describe a baby. Its royal use preserves the older sense of the Latin word infans, “child,” through Spanish and Portuguese, and it is encountered especially in history, genealogy, and accounts of European courts.
nounAn infant or young child, especially in literary or archaic usage. In Spain, Portugal, and their former royal domains, a title for a male child of the monarch, especially a prince.
- A baby or very young child, now chiefly in literary or archaic usage.
- A title for a male child of a monarch, especially a prince, in Spain, Portugal, and their former royal domains.
"The young infante was introduced to the court for the first time."
"The nurse entered the chamber where the infante lay sleeping."
"The Infante of Portugal attended the ceremony with his younger brother."
The standard plural, especially for royal princes bearing the title.
"The infantes Don Carlos and Don Ferdinand both became prominent figures in Spanish history."
While English uses “infant” for a baby, its close relative “infante” can name a royal prince in Spain and Portugal.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does infante come from?
English infante comes through Spanish infante or Portuguese infante, both derived from Latin infantis, the genitive form of infans, meaning “child” or “infant.” The Latin term was also borrowed directly into English as infant. In Iberian royal usage, infante came to designate a prince or another male child of the monarch, while the broader meaning “young child” survives in English chiefly as a literary word.
How infante is actually used
The sense meaning “baby” is literary and comparatively uncommon in modern English. As a royal title, it is normally capitalized when used directly before a name or as an abbreviated title.
Easily confused with infante
Infant is the standard modern English word for a baby or very young child, whereas infante is literary in that sense and is chiefly used as a royal title in Iberian contexts.
Infante refers to a child or royal prince, while infantry denotes soldiers who fight on foot.