baba
/baˈba/
The English word "dad" is translated into Turkish as baba.
baba is used to refer to a father. It is also used colloquially as a term of address for an older, respected or authoritative man, similar to how one might use "boss" or "old man" in certain English contexts.
Meaning: informal: a father (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
In Turkish, the word changes depending on its role in a sentence. To say "my dad," add the first-person singular possessive suffix -im to get babam. To say "his dad" or "her dad," add the third-person singular possessive suffix -ası to get babası. If the dad is the direct object of a sentence, such as in "I saw the dad," the word becomes babayı. To say "to the dad" using the dative case, the word changes to babaya.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /baˈba/. The sound of the letter b is like the [b] in the English word "about".
Did you know?
- The word baba shares a deep ancestral root with the Southern Altai word baabïy, which surprisingly means 'small baby'.
- While baba means 'dad', it can also describe a spiritual leader or a Sufi master in a religious context.
- In some Turkish dialects, baba is used to refer to a pillar, a main support beam, or a sturdy post.
Examples in context
- Tom da bir baba.Tom is a dad, too.This sentence uses baba to show that Tom is also a father.Tatoeba #5992134 by duran, translation #5992035 by CK
- Sen en iyi babasın.You're the best dad ever.This sentence uses baba to describe someone as the best dad.Tatoeba #5564264 by Gulo_Luscus, translation #2240379 by Hybrid
- Baban ne iş yapıyor?What does your dad do?This sentence uses baban to ask about someone's dad.Tatoeba #3674036 by duran, translation #3068203 by Hybrid
- 366 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Burak and Selin are talking about Burak's father's birthday.
- BurakBabamın doğum günü yaklaşıyor.My dad's birthday is approaching.
- SelinOna ne hediye alacaksın?What gift will you get for him?
- BurakBelki ona yeni bir saat alırım.Maybe I will buy him a new watch.
- SelinBence baban buna çok sevinecek.I think your dad will be very happy with this.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dad” translations and entries baba, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries baba, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
