아빠
appa[a̠p͈a̠]
The English phrase "daddy" is translated into Korean as 아빠 (appa). Wiktionary also lists 아버지 (abeoji).
Meaning: (informal, usually childish) father (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 아빠 | appa | [a̠p͈a̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 아버지 | abeoji | [a̠bʌ̹d͡ʑi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term 아빠 is used as an informal way to say "daddy". While it is primarily used by young children, adults may also use it when speaking to their own fathers in a close, casual or affectionate family setting.
Which one should you use?
아버지 is the formal and standard term for "father", whereas 아빠 is the informal, more affectionate term used by children or in a "daddy" sense. Additionally, 아부지 is a term similar to 아빠 used in casual conversations.
How do you pronounce it?
appa
Did you know?
- In many Korean families, the term 아빠 might be used by adult women when speaking to their husbands if they have children, effectively calling him 'daddy' in the context of their role as a parent.
- In Korean culture, using the formal 아버지 instead of 아빠 when you are an adult can sometimes signal a psychological distance or a period of tension between a child and their parent.
- The informal 아빠 actually originated from a combination of the old word for 'father', 아비, and a calling particle. It is essentially a condensed way of shouting 'hey, father!'
Examples in context
- 아빠, 오늘 함께 저녁을 먹으러 가요?Dad, shall we go have dinner together tonight?
- 아빠, 배고파요.appa, baegopayo.Daddy, I'm hungry.
- 우리 아빠는 정말 멋져요.uri appaneun jeongmal meotjyeoyo.My daddy is really cool.
- 아빠, 같이 놀아요!appa, gachi norayo!Daddy, let's play together!
Example conversation
Dohyun and Jieun are talking about their families at home.
- 도현 Do-hyeon지은아, 아빠가 언제 오신대?jieuna, appaga eonje osindae?Jieun, when did daddy say he's coming?
- 지은 Ji-eun오늘 저녁에 오신다고 하셨어.oneul jeonyeoge osindago hasyeosseo.He said he's coming this evening.
- 도현 Do-hyeon나도 우리 아빠 보고 싶어.nado uri appa bogo sipeo.I miss my daddy too.
- 지은 Ji-eun조금만 더 기다리면 올 거야.jogeumman deo gidarimyeon ol geoya.He'll be here if you wait a bit longer.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “daddy” translations and entries 아빠, 아버지, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 아버지, 아빠, CC BY-SA 4.0.
