아빠
appa[a̠p͈a̠]
The English word "dad" can be translated into Korean as 아빠 (appa) or 아버지.
Meaning: informal: a father (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 아빠 | appa | [a̠p͈a̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 아버지 | abeoji | [a̠bʌ̹d͡ʑi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
아빠 is an informal and affectionate term, equivalent to "dad" or "daddy". It is typically used by children or when adults are speaking to their children in a very casual, intimate family setting. 아버지 is used in formal settings, when a person is grown up or when speaking about one's father in a respectful manner to others.
Which one should you use?
아빠 is the informal, more affectionate term equivalent to "dad" or "daddy". In contrast, 아버지 is the formal, more respectful term equivalent to "father".
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the informal 아빠, the polite sentence ending –예요 is often used to maintain a level of politeness to the listener while keeping the subject informal, as seen in the form 아빠예요.
How do you pronounce it?
appa
Did you know?
- The informal 아빠 actually contains a hidden 'hey' inside it. It was formed by combining the old word for father, 아비, with the vocative particle -아, which is used to call out to someone.
- Because of the strict hierarchy in the language, using 아빠 when referring to someone else's father can be seen as overly familiar or even rude.
- In Korean culture, the level of respect you show to your father is reflected not just in the word you choose, but in the specific verb endings you attach to the sentence.
Examples in context
- 아빠는 그 때 집에 없었어요.Dad wasn't at home then.This sentence is useful for describing where 아빠 was at a specific time.Tatoeba #10618448 by andotang129, translation #12114711 by sundown
- 아빠는 지금 집에 안 계셔.My dad is not home at the moment.This sentence is useful for describing a current situation regarding 아빠.Tatoeba #13170402 by atitarev, translation #453910 by saasmath
- 아버지는 지금 집에 안 계세요.My dad isn't home at the moment.This sentence is useful for describing a current situation regarding 아버지.Tatoeba #13170399 by atitarev, translation #7492942 by CK
- 오늘 저녁은 어떤 음식을 드시고 싶으세요, 아버지?What kind of food would you like to eat for dinner, Dad?
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Subin and Hyunwoo are talking about their weekend plans.
- 수빈 Su-bin이번 주말에 아빠랑 어디 가?Ibeon jumare apparang eodi ga?Where are you going with your dad this weekend?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo아빠랑 같이 낚시하러 가요.Apparang gachi nakksihareo gayo.I'm going fishing with my dad.
- 수빈 Su-bin정말 재미있겠다!Jeongmal jaemi-itgetda!That sounds really fun!
- 현우 Hyeon-woo다녀와서 이야기해 줄게요.Danyeowaseo iyagihae julgeyo.I'll tell you about it when I get back.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dad” translations and entries 아빠, 아버지, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 아버지, 아빠, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
