infante

Infante (masculine) and infanta (feminine) are royal titles used in parts of Europe, most notably in the Iberian kingdoms of Spain and Portugal, to designate the children of the sovereign who are not the monarch's heir to the throne. The term comes from Latin infans, meaning "child" or "one not yet adult," and entered Iberian usage during the Middle Ages.

During the Middle Ages and early modern period, in Castile, León, Aragon, and Portugal, all legitimate children of the monarch who were not the heir bore the title infante or infanta. The heir typically held a separate title, such as Prince of Asturias in Spain, or other princely titles in Portugal. Infantes could exercise civil, military, or administrative duties and were often employed in governance of territories, as well as sought for dynastic marriages to cement alliances.

Today the title remains in use primarily in Spain as an official royal style for the monarch's children and certain close relatives; the heir to the throne uses a separate designation (for example, Prince or Princess of Asturias). In Portugal, the title is historical, reflecting the era of a deposed monarchy; modern usage exists only in historical or ceremonial contexts for former royal houses.