papà
/paˈpa/masculine
The Italian word for dad is papà. Wiktionary also lists babbo and pà.
Meaning: informal: a father (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| papà | /paˈpa/ | masculine |
| babbo | /ˈbab.bo/ | masculine |
| pà | masculine |
Which one should you use?
papà is the most common and standard way to say 'dad' across Italy. babbo is an informal way to say 'dad', while pà is a shortened, highly colloquial form of papà used in direct address.
Is it said differently in some regions?
babbo is common in central and northern regions of Italy.
How does it change in a sentence?
All forms are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/paˈpa/
Did you know?
- While papà is used everywhere, using babbo to mean 'dad' might confuse someone from Southern Italy, as the word can also mean 'fool' or 'idiot' in certain dialects.
- The word babbo is the root used in the Italian translation for 'Father Christmas', which is Babbo Natale.
- The word babbo is an onomatopoeic term, meaning it was originally created to mimic the easy sounds a baby makes when first learning to speak.
Examples in context
- È il suo papà.He's her dad.Tatoeba #8496005 by Guybrush88, translation #8479915 by CH
- Amo il mio papà.I love my dad.Tatoeba #2553737 by Guybrush88, translation #2549728 by CK
- Ama il suo papà.She loves her dad.Tatoeba #4975696 by Guybrush88, translation #2807602 by Hybrid
- Oggi andrò al cinema con il mio papà.Today, I'm going to the cinema with my dad.
- Voglio ringraziare il mio babbo per tutto il suo sostegno.I want to thank my dad for all his support.
- Hai visto il regalo che mi ha fatto papi?Did you see the gift dad got me?
- 237 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Chiara are talking about a family dinner.
- LorenzoHai chiamato tuo papà per stasera?Did you call your dad for tonight?
- ChiaraSì, papà ha detto che arriva tardi.Yes, dad said he's arriving late.
- LorenzoSpero che arrivi prima della cena.I hope he arrives before dinner.
- ChiaraLo chiamo di nuovo per sicurezza.I'll call him again just to be sure.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dad” translations and entries papà, babbo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries babbo, papà, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
