papi
/pa.pi/masculine
The English phrase "grandpa" is translated into French as papi. It is also spelled papy.
Meaning: grandfather (informal) (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| papi | /pa.pi/ | masculine |
| papy | /pa.pi/ | masculine, alternative form |
papi is an informal and affectionate term used to refer to a grandfather.
Which one should you use?
papi and its alternative spelling papy are used in the same way. In contrast to these informal terms, the standard and more formal way to say "grandfather" is grand-père.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term pépé is a regional variation used to refer to grandfathers.
How does it change in a sentence?
The female counterpart to the masculine papi is mamie, which means "grandma".
How do you pronounce it?
/pa.pi/
Did you know?
- The term papi is closely related to the German word 'Papi', showing a shared European trend of using reduplicated sounds for child-directed speech.
- The term pépé is sometimes used by adults to jokingly refer to an older man who is not actually their grandfather, much like calling someone 'gramps' in English.
- The formal grand-père is often used in writing or official contexts, but using it in a casual family setting can sound strangely cold or distant.
Examples in context
- À plus, papy !See you, grandpa!This sentence shows how to use papy in a friendly farewell.Tatoeba #7938630 by Micsmithel, translation #6480097 by Micsmithel
- Mon papi mange une orange.My grandpa is eating an orange.This sentence uses papi to describe an action performed by a grandpa.Tatoeba #13672456 by Rovo, translation #12807429 by rul
- Rendons visite à mon Papy, ce week-end !Let's visit my grandpa this weekend.This sentence demonstrates how to use papy when planning a visit.Tatoeba #2431907 by sacredceltic, translation #266422 by CN
- Je rends visite à mon grand-père chaque été.I visit my grandpa every summer.
- Bon anniversaire, Papi!Happy birthday, grandpa!
- Papou, tu nous manques tellement!Grandpa, we miss you so much!
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two grandchildren are talking about visiting their grandfather.
- HugoTu veux appeler papi ?Do you want to call grandpa?
- LéaOui, je vais lui parler.Yes, I am going to talk to him.
- HugoEst-ce que papi arrive bientôt ?Is grandpa arriving soon?
- LéaOui, il arrive ce soir.Yes, he is arriving tonight.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandpa” translations and entries papi, papy, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries papi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
