Ways to say it
| Syrian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| بابا | baba | |
| أبوي | abuy | when talking about him, rather than to him |
بابا is what Syrians call their father directly, used at every age. أبوي (abuy), 'my father', is used more when talking about him to someone else.
What does it mean word for word?
بابا is a simple, affectionate word found in many languages. أبوي joins أب, 'father', with the ending for 'my'.
Which one should you use?
بابا is the direct address, said right to him. أبوي appears in sentences about him, such as أبوي رجع, 'my father came back'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
بابا stays comfortable at every age in Syria and is not seen as babyish for an adult to use.
Is it said differently in some regions?
بابا is used across Syria and the wider Arab world with almost no variation.
How does it change in a sentence?
أبوي changes with the possessor, so أبوك means 'your father', pronounced differently depending on whether a man or a woman is being addressed, though the spelling stays the same.
How do you pronounce it?
بابا is stressed evenly on both syllables, close to how it sounds in English.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using أبوي to call out to him directly, instead of about him, sounds unusual. Say بابا when speaking to him.
When do people say it?
In many Syrian households, بابا is the one who greets guests at the door first, and children often run to tell him news before anyone else.
Did you know?
- Like ماما, Syrians keep calling their father بابا well into adulthood rather than switching to a more formal word.
- أبوي hides a pronunciation change depending on who is being addressed, even though the written word stays the same.
Examples in context
- بابا، وصلت الشركة؟baba, wasalt esh-sherke?Dad, did you arrive at the company?
- أبوي علمني قيادة السيارة.abuy allamni qiyadet es-sayyara.My father taught me to drive.
- بابا، في زوار اليوم.baba, fi zuwwar el-youm.Dad, there are guests today.
Example conversation
Rami tells his father, Baba Fadi, about his exam results.
- Ramiبابا، نجحت بالامتحان!baba, najjahit bil-imtihan!Dad, I passed the exam!
- Baba Fadiالله يبارك فيك، كنت متأكد.allah ybarek fik, kint mit2akked.Congratulations, I was sure of it.
- Ramiبفضل مساعدتك بابا.bfadl musaadtak baba.Thanks to your help, dad.
- Baba Fadiهالنجاح نجاحك انت.han-najah najahak inta.This success is yours.
