papi
/ˈpapi/
The Spanish word for dad is papi.
papi is an affectionate term similar to daddy in English.
Meaning: informal: a father (noun)
Which one should you use?
While papi is a very affectionate or diminutive form, papá is the standard, common way to say 'dad' in most Spanish-speaking contexts. In contrast, padre means father and is more formal than papá.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of papi is papis.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpapi/
Did you know?
- While papá is the standard word for 'dad', omitting the accent and writing papa changes the meaning to 'potato'.
- In some regions, the word papi is used by parents when speaking to their own young children, effectively calling the child 'daddy'.
- While papi is a term for a father, it is also frequently used in romantic contexts as a term of endearment between partners, much like 'baby' or 'honey' in English.
Examples in context
- Feliz cumpleaños, papi.Happy birthday, Dad.This sentence is useful for wishing someone a happy birthday using papi.Tatoeba #13452618 by Seael, translation #2650904 by meerkat
- ¡Hola papi, qué bueno verte!Hi daddy, great to see you!
- Papi, ¿me ayudas con la tarea?Dad, can you help me with my homework?
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are at home in the afternoon.
- LucíaPapi, ¿tienes hambre?Dad, are you hungry?
- JavierSí, Lucía, tengo mucha hambre.Yes, Lucía, I am very hungry.
- LucíaTe prepararé algo de comer.I will prepare something for you to eat.
- JavierGracias, eres una gran hija.Thanks, you are a great daughter.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry papi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
