Definition
The state, quality, or rank of being a god; divine status or nature.
Etymology
Compound of 'god' and '-hood,' an Old English suffix meaning 'state of being.' Related to words like 'childhood,' 'likelihood,' and 'falsehood.'
Kelly Says
Ancient rulers like Egyptian pharaohs claimed 'godhood' to justify absolute power—by declaring themselves divine, they made it blasphemy to question their decisions, a clever political trick!
Translations
AMአማርኛ
እግዚአብሔር
eg-zi-a-be-her
ARالعربية
الالهية
al-ela-hiya
CACatalà
divinitat
dee-vee-nee-tat
CSČeština
božství
bozh-stv-ee
DADansk
guddom
goo-ddoh-m
DEDeutsch
Gottheit
got-tayt
ELΕλληνικά
θεότητα
the-o-tee-ta
ESEspañol
divinidad
dee-vee-nee-dad
FISuomi
jumaluus
joo-ma-loo-us
FRFrançais
divinité
dee-vee-nee-tay
HUMagyar
istenesség
ees-teh-nes-seg
IDBahasa Indonesia
ilahi
ee-la-hee
ITItaliano
divinità
dee-vee-nee-ta
MRMR
देवत्वपूर्ण
dev-tva-poor-n
MSBahasa Melayu
ilahi
ee-lah-hee
NLNederlands
godheid
goh-deh-heid
NONorsk
guddom
goo-ddoh-m
PTPortuguês
divindade
dee-vee-dee-nad
RORomână
divinitate
dee-vee-nee-ta-teh
RUРусский
божество
bo-zhe-stvo
SVSvenska
gudom
goo-doh-m
SWKiswahili
Mungu
moon-goo
TEతెలుగు
దైవత్వం
dai-vat-vam
THไทย
ศักดิ์สิทธิ์
sak-dit-sit
TRTürkçe
ilahilik
ee-lah-hee-lik
UKУкраїнська
божество
bo-zhe-stvo
VITiếng Việt
thần tính
than-tin
ZUZU
uMvelinqangi
oo-mvel-in-ga-ngi
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Used universally for divinity across genders, but in practice heavily skewed toward male deity representation in Western usage. The term obscures this bias by appearing neutral.
Inclusive Usage
Term is functionally acceptable, but pair with 'goddess' and 'godess-centered' language when appropriate to balance representation.
Inclusive Alternatives
["divinity"]
Empowerment Note
Both male and female deities deserve equal linguistic representation; using 'godhood' for all requires conscious effort to name goddess traditions.