tėtis
masculine
The Lithuanian word for 'dad' is tėtis.
tėtis is an informal noun used to refer to a father.
Meaning: informal: a father (noun)
Which one should you use?
In Lithuanian, you should distinguish between the informal tėtis (dad) and the formal word tėvas (father).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form tėtis changes depending on its role in a sentence. Use tėtį when 'dad' is the direct object of a sentence, such as in 'I see dad'. To express possession, such as 'dad's', use the form tėčio.
Did you know?
- Lithuanian is one of the most conservative living languages, meaning tėvas and tėtis have remained remarkably similar to ancient Proto-Indo-European roots.
- In Lithuania, calling your father by the formal word tėvas instead of tėtis can actually sound cold or distant, almost as if you are talking about a stranger.
- If you want to be even more affectionate than using tėtis, you can use the even smaller form tūtis, though this is reserved for very young children.
Examples in context
- Kur yra mano tėtis?Where is my dad?This sentence shows how to ask for the location of your tėtis.Tatoeba #1784106 by Balamax, translation #595504 by CK
- Tėtis nupirko man kamerą.Dad bought me a camera.This sentence shows a completed action performed by tėtis.Tatoeba #1685286 by fanty, translation #64054 by CM
- Mano tėtis yra stipresnis už tavo tėtį.My dad is stronger than your dad.This sentence demonstrates a comparison using the form tėtis.Tatoeba #1604007 by fanty, translation #924442 by Scott
- Tėve, aš tave myliu.Father, I love you.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Andrius and Austėja are talking about their parents at home.
- AndriusAr tavo tėtis šiandien ateis?Will your dad come today?
- AustėjaTaip, jis bus čia netrukus.Yes, he will be here soon.
- AndriusMano tėtis taip pat ateina.My dad is also coming.
- AustėjaPuiku, jie galės pasikalbėti.Great, they can talk.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dad” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
