pappa
masculine
pappa is the Norwegian word for dad.
pappa is a masculine noun used to refer to a father in an informal context.
Meaning: informal: a father (noun)
Which one should you use?
pappa is the informal term for dad, while far is the formal term for father.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Western Norway, the informal variation farsa is occasionally used instead of pappa.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify 'the dad', add the suffix '-en' to form pappaen. To indicate possession (dad's), add an 's' to the end of the word to get pappas. The definite plural form, meaning 'the dads', is pappaene.
Did you know?
- The word pappa originates from the Latin word papa, which was used in the early Christian church to refer to the Pope.
- In some Norwegian dialects, you might hear the word pappis as an even more affectionate, diminutive version of pappa, similar to saying 'daddy' or 'papa'.
- While pappa is the standard informal term, the word far can sometimes feel overly distant or cold in modern Norwegian families.
Examples in context
- Be pappa om å komme.Tell Dad to come.This sentence shows how to use pappa to refer to a father.Tatoeba #13374381 by gnofs, translation #871393 by CM
- Eg saknar deg, pappa.I miss you, Dad.This sentence shows how to address pappa directly.Tatoeba #13026625 by Just_Some_Guy, translation #13024707 by LdjuherTaqvaylit
- Pappa, her er kaffen.Dad, here's the coffee.Tatoeba #13374380 by gnofs, translation #871387 by CM
- Jeg er veldig glad i deg, far.I love you very much, dad.
- Far, kan du hjelpe meg med leksene?Dad, can you help me with my homework?
- Pappa, kan jeg få en is?Dad, can I have an ice cream?
- Hvor er du, pappa?Where are you, dad?
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a family dinner table.
- AndreasKan pappa hjelpe meg med dette?Can dad help me with this?
- NoraJa, pappa er veldig flink til det.Yes, dad is very good at that.
- AndreasTakk, pappa er best!Thanks, dad is the best!
- NoraNora er enig med deg.Nora agrees with you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dad” translations and entries pappa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pappa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
