Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Papa | /ˈpapa/ (often) /paˈpaː/ |
masculine |
| Papi | /ˈpapi/ | masculine |
| Vati | /ˈfaːti/ | masculine |
The terms used for 'dad' are informal ways to refer to a father. While the standard and more formal term is Vater, terms like Papa are used within families to express affection and familiarity.
Which one should you use?
Papa is the standard informal term for 'dad'. Papi is a more diminutive and affectionate version, similar to the English 'daddy'. Vati is another informal variation often used by children or in very familiar family settings. Paps is a colloquial form of the word.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The word Papa is an informal and affectionate way to say 'dad'. In contrast, Vater is the standard, more formal term for 'father'. Papi and Vati are informal and used in close, affectionate family contexts, while Paps is colloquial.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the dialects of Northern and Western Germany, the colloquial term Vadder is used for 'dad'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To show possession, such as 'dad's car', you add an -s to Papa to get Papas. When using Papa in the dative case, such as 'I gave it to dad', you use dem Papa.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpapa/
Did you know?
- The German word Papa is a linguistic traveler that actually entered the language from French.
- In Germany, referring to one's father as mein Vater in a formal setting can sound distancing, whereas mein Papa signals a warm relationship.
- While Papa is the common word for 'dad', the formal word Vater is a linguistic cousin of the English word 'father'.
Examples in context
- Er ist ihr Papa.He's her dad.This sentence shows how to identify someone as a person's Papa.Tatoeba #8479937 by Luiaard, translation #8479915 by CH
- Ist das Ihr Papa?Is that your dad?This sentence is useful for asking someone if a man is their Papa.Tatoeba #12602689 by Waldelfe, translation #12945268 by sundown
- Mama, wo ist Papa?Mum, where's Dad?This sentence illustrates how to use Papa when asking for a father's location.Tatoeba #1240040 by al_ex_an_der, translation #1002812 by Nihonkage
- Hallo, Papa!Hello, dad!
- Papa, ich habe dich lieb.Dad, I love you.
- Guten Morgen, Vati!Good morning, dad!
- Kommst du mit, Vati?Are you coming along, dad?
- Paps, kannst du mir helfen?Dad, can you help me?
- Ich gehe angeln, Paps.I'm going fishing, dad.
- 213 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Sarah are talking about their weekend plans.
- JulianKommt dein Papa auch mit?Is your dad coming along too?
- SarahJa, mein Papa hat Zeit.Yes, my dad has time.
- JulianDas ist super!That's great!
- SarahIch rufe ihn gleich an.I'll call him right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dad” translations and entries Papa, Papi, Vati, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Papa, Papi, Vati, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
