אבא
abba
abba is the Hebrew word for 'Dad'.
אבא is an informal term used to either directly address one's father or to refer to him in the third person.
Which one should you use?
While אבא is used in daily conversation, the word אב is the formal, literary term for 'father'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
אבא is the standard informal way to say 'Dad' or 'Daddy' in Hebrew.
How do you pronounce it?
abba
Did you know?
- The word abba appears in the name of the famous Swedish pop group ABBA, though their name is an acronym for the members' first names and not a reference to fathers.
- While English speakers might use 'Daddy' to sound particularly infantile, the use of אבא in Hebrew is widely accepted as the standard, natural way for people of almost all ages to address their fathers.
- The word אבא is actually a loanword from Aramaic, rather than being the original Hebrew root for 'father'.
Examples in context
- אבא שלי בבית.abba sheli ba-bayit.My father is at home.
- אבא, אפשר קצת כסף?abba, efshar ktsat kesef?Dad, can I have some money?
- אני הולכת לדבר עם אבא.ani holekhet ledaber im abba.I am going to talk to Dad.
Example conversation
Maya is asking Daniel about his father.
- מאיה Mayaדניאל, איפה אבא שלך?Daniel, eyfo abba shelcha?Daniel, where is your dad?
- דניאל Danielאבא נמצא בעבודה עכשיו.Abba nimtsa ba-avoda achshav.Dad is at work now.
- מאיה Mayaמתי הוא יחזור הביתה?Matai hu yachzor habayta?When will he come back home?
- דניאל Danielהוא יחזור בעוד שעה.Hu yachzor be-od sha-a.He will be back in an hour.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries אבא, CC BY-SA 4.0.
