Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Papa | /ˈpapa/ (often) /paˈpaː/ |
masculine |
| Papi | /ˈpapi/ | masculine |
| Vati | /ˈfaːti/ | masculine |
These terms are informal ways to refer to a father, often used by children or to express affection. The standard word for father in German is Vater.
Which one should you use?
Papa and Papi are used by children or in very affectionate contexts. In contrast, Vater is the standard, neutral term for 'father'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Papa is less formal than Vater but acceptable in some formal settings. Vati is a colloquial diminutive, often used by children, but it can sometimes feel slightly old-fashioned compared to Papa. Paps is a playful and affectionate term used among children or to express fondness.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun Papa takes an -s in the genitive case to indicate possession, similar to English (e.g., Papas).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpapa/
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'daddy' for both the child's name for their father and a term of endearment, using Papa in a romantic or flirtatious way in German is extremely rare and carries a different social weight.
- The word Papa entered the German language via French, rather than evolving directly from the native German word Vater.
- Using Vati can sometimes make a speaker sound like they are from a specific older generation, as the '-i' diminutive for 'Vater' was particularly popular in the mid-20th century.
Examples in context
- Papa, ich hab dich lieb!Daddy, I love you!This sentence shows how to use Papa to express affection.Tatoeba #2235465 by Vortarulo, translation #2075226 by Vened
- Geh Papa gute Nacht sagen!Go tell Daddy goodnight.This sentence shows how to use Papa when talking to a child about their father.Tatoeba #9466082 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #9466037 by CK
- Wann kommt Papa nach Hause?When is Daddy coming home?This sentence shows how to use Papa when asking about a father's arrival.Tatoeba #4867079 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #4856295 by Hybrid
- Kannst du mir bitte helfen, Papa?Can you help me, dad?
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A young girl is asking her father to play with her in the living room.
- JuliaPapa, spiel bitte mit mir!Daddy, please play with me!
- MaximilianGerne, mein Schatz, was wollen wir spielen?Gladly, my sweetheart, what do we want to play?
- JuliaLass uns Fußball spielen, Papa.Let's play soccer, Daddy.
- MaximilianDas ist eine gute Idee.That is a good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “daddy” translations and entries Papa, Papi, Vati, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Papa, Papi, Vati, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
