papá
/paˈpa/masculine
The Spanish word for 'dad' is papá.
papá is the most frequently used term for 'dad' in Spanish and serves as an informal way to refer to a father.
Meaning: informal: a father (noun)
Which one should you use?
There is a significant difference in meaning depending on the accent: papá means 'dad', while papa without the accent refers to either 'potato' or 'the Pope'. Additionally, papá is the informal term, whereas padre is the more formal or neutral way to say 'father'.
How does it change in a sentence?
papá is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/paˈpa/
Did you know?
- In various Caribbean dialects, papi has evolved into a colloquial term of endearment used between male friends or toward a romantic partner, moving far beyond the role of 'dad'.
- In some regions, the phrase mi viejo (my old man) is used as a synonym for mi papá, conveying deep affection rather than just describing the father's age.
- The word papá is a linguistic 'loanword' that traveled from French into Spanish, rather than being a word of purely Spanish origin.
Examples in context
- Amo a mi papá.I love my dad.This sentence shows how to express affection for papá.Tatoeba #3169823 by marcelostockle, translation #2549728 by CK
- Tom es mi papá.Tom is my dad.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as your papá.Tatoeba #2344904 by hayastan, translation #2273298 by CK
- Papá se puso bueno.Dad got better.This sentence demonstrates using papá as a subject in a sentence.Tatoeba #1370337 by Shishir, translation #10465403 by DJ_Saidez
- Mi padre es un hombre muy respetado en la comunidad.My father is a highly respected man in the community.
- ¿Cómo está, señor? Me han hablado mucho de su padre.How are you, sir? I have heard a lot about your father.
- Mi padre, el señor Rodríguez, asistirá a la reunión de hoy.My father, Mr. Rodríguez, will attend today's meeting.
- ¡Hola papá! ¿Cómo estás?Hi dad! How are you?
- Mi papá siempre me apoya en todo lo que hago.My dad always supports me in everything I do.
- Voy a visitar a papi este fin de semana.I'm going to visit dad this weekend.
- 141 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María is telling Javier about her weekend plans.
- MaríaVoy a visitar a mi papá.I am going to visit my dad.
- Javier¿Dónde vive tu papá?Where does your dad live?
- MaríaÉl vive en la ciudad.He lives in the city.
- JavierQué bien, dale saludos.That's great, give him my regards.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dad” translations and entries papá, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries papá, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
