ኣቦ
ʾabbo
The Tigrinya word for 'dad' is ኣቦ (ʾabbo).
The word is used to refer to a father in an informal context.
Meaning: informal: a father (noun)
Which one should you use?
The specific informal way to say 'dad' is Ata.
How do you pronounce it?
ʾabbo
Did you know?
- In Tigrinya, ኣቦ can be used as a term of respect for any older man or elder in the community, regardless of biological relation.
- In some contexts, a man might refer to himself in the third person using 'father' terms when speaking to a child to establish a nurturing or authoritative tone.
- In some traditional Tigrinya households, children avoid calling their ኣቦ by his first name as a sign of deep cultural respect.
Examples in context
- ኣቦ ክትመጽእ ትኽእልዶ?Abo kitme'ts'i tik'elido?Dad, can you come?
Example conversation
Samuel and Haymanot are talking at home.
- ሳሚኤል Samuelኣቦ ኣበይ እዩ?abo abey eyu?Where is dad?
- ሃይማኖት Haymanotኣቦ ኣብ ቤት እዩ።abo ab bet eyu.Dad is in the house.
- ሳሚኤል Samuelኣቦ ክመገብ እዩ?abo kimegeb eyu?Is dad going to eat?
- ሃይማኖት Haymanotእወ፡ ኣቦ ክመገብ እዩ።ewe, abo kimegeb eyu.Yes, dad is going to eat.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ኣቦ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
