بابا
bābā́/bɑˈbɑ/
The Pashto word for "dad" is بابا (bābā́).
بابا is used as an informal and affectionate way to address a father or to refer to him in the third person, similar to how English speakers use "dad" or "papa".
Meaning: informal: a father (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
بابا is an informal term. For a more formal expression that emphasizes respect, you can use پلار صاحب, which can be translated as "Mr. Dad".
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is bābā́ and the IPA is /bɑˈbɑ/.
Did you know?
- While بابا is used for one's own father, it is also a very common title for elderly men or spiritual leaders in many Pashtun communities.
- In some Pashtun communities, بابا is used to refer to a grandfather rather than a father.
- The word بابا shares a linguistic root with many other Indo-Iranian languages, making it sound remarkably similar to 'baba' in Persian or even certain archaic forms of 'papa' in European languages.
Examples in context
- زما بابا ښه دی.zama baba kha de.My dad is good.
- بابا، راځه چې لوبې وکړو.baba, raza che loobi wakro.Dad, come let's play.
- دا زما بابا دی.da zama baba de.This is my dad.
Example conversation
Zarkola is asking Ahmed about his father.
- زركولہ Zarkolaاحمد، ستاسو بابا چېرته دی؟Ahmed, staso baba cherte day?Ahmed, where is your dad?
- احمد Ahmedزما بابا په کار کې دی.Zama baba pa kar ke day.My dad is at work.
- زركولہ Zarkolaکله به هغه راشي؟Kala ba haghah rashi?When will he come back?
- احمد Ahmedبابا به ماسپښتو راشي.Baba ba maspashto rashi.Dad will come back in the evening.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry بابا, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
