پاپا
papaaffectionate, urban
For "daddy", Pakistani children most often say پاپا (papa). ڈیڈی (daddy) is borrowed from English and ابو جی (abbu ji) is the warm, more traditional choice.
Meaning: affectionate word for father (noun)
Ways to say it
| Pakistan | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| پاپا | papa | affectionate, urban |
| ڈیڈی | daddy | casual, English loan |
| ابو جی | abbu ji | affectionate, traditional |
Small children say پاپا (papa) or ابو (abbu) and often keep the word into adulthood. ڈیڈی (daddy) is heard mostly in city families and in older films.
Which one should you use?
ابو جی (abbu ji) adds respect to affection. Which word a family uses is mostly a habit of the home, not a rule.
Did you know?
- Parents often answer a child with بیٹا (beta), literally "son", and use it for daughters as well.
Examples in context
- پاپا، مجھے گود میں لیں۔papa, mujhe god mein lein.Daddy, pick me up.
- ڈیڈی میرے ساتھ کھیلیں گے۔daddy mere saath khelenge.Daddy will play with me.
- ابو جی، آپ کیسے ہیں؟abbu ji, aap kaise hain?Daddy, how are you?
Example conversation
Little Maryam runs to her father at the door of their home in Karachi.
- Maryamپاپا آ گئے!papa aa gaye!Daddy is home!
- Papaہاں بیٹا، آج کیا کیا؟haan beta, aaj kya kiya?Yes dear, what did you do today?
- Maryamپاپا، میں نے ڈرائنگ بنائی۔papa, main ne drawing banayi.Daddy, I made a drawing.
