French word

papa

Pronunciation

IPA/papa/

Meaning

  • masculine noundad

Example

Mon papa est à la maison.

My dad is at home.

Illustration for papa (dad)

More examples

Je vais chez papa ce soir.

I'm going to Dad's place tonight.

Core concept

A warm, familiar name for a father, used in a child's call or in family talk.

Common phrases

  • Mon papa

    my dad

  • chez papa

    to Dad's place

  • appeler papa

    call Dad

Similar words

père: A formal term for a father, suitable for official situations or introducing someone.

Definition in French

Mot affectueux et courant pour désigner le père, employé comme appellation directe (par exemple « mon papa ») ou pour parler de son père de façon familière.

Word origin

French papa comes from child-language reduplication, a pattern also found in many languages, and became an ordinary familiar noun for father.

Usage tips

  • Papa is masculine despite its final -a, so standard forms include le papa and mon papa.

Opposites

Word lists with this word