hola papá
/ola papa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "hey dad" is translated into Spanish as hola papá.
hola papá is an informal greeting used when speaking to one's father. Other relaxed and friendly ways to greet a father include asking ¿Qué pasa, Pa? (What's up, Dad?). In many Hispanic cultures, it is also common to use the endearing term Papi to address a father.
Which one should you use?
Be careful with the accent on the word papá. The version with the accent on the final a means "dad", whereas the word papa without the accent means "potato" or refers to "the Pope".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
hola papá is an informal phrase suitable for the close relationship between a child and their father. In some Latin American countries, you may also hear the affectionate and informal address Hey, Viejo (old man) used for a father.
Did you know?
- The term Papi can be used for a father, but in some regions it is also used as a flirtatious term for a romantic partner.
- Some linguists have compared hola to the Arabic phrase wal-lāh, which means 'by God!'
Examples in context
- Hola, Papá. Estoy muy bien, ¡gracias por preguntar!Hey, Dad. I'm doing great, thanks for asking!
- ¡Oye, Papi! ¿Quieres jugar un partido de fútbol?Hey, Dad! Do you want to play a soccer match?
- Hola papá, ¿cómo estás?Hey dad, how are you?
- ¡Hola papá! Te extrañé mucho.Hey dad! I missed you a lot.
- Hola papá, ¿qué haces?Hey dad, what are you doing?
Example conversation
Daniel walks into the living room to greet his father.
- DanielHola papá, ¿estás libre ahora?Hey dad, are you free now?
- MaríaSí, Daniel. ¿Qué necesitas?Yes, Daniel. What do you need?
- DanielQuería preguntarte sobre el coche.I wanted to ask you about the car.
- MaríaClaro, hablemos de eso.Sure, let's talk about that.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hola, papá, CC BY-SA 4.0.
