hola papá
/ola papa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "hi dad" is translated into Spanish as hola papá.
hola papá is an informal greeting used to say hello to one's father.
Which one should you use?
It is important to note the accent on the final á in papá. Without this accent, the word becomes papa, which means either "potato" or "the Pope".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
hola papá is the informal way to greet a father. If you wish to be significantly more formal or distant, you may use hola padre.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Ensure you include the accent on the final á in papá. Otherwise, you will be saying the word for "potato" or "the Pope".
Did you know?
- The history of the word hola suggests it could be related to Old High German words used to hail ferrymen, such as the imperative of 'holōn'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, it is common to greet a father with a kiss on the cheek rather than a handshake or a hug.
- While papá is the standard for 'dad', some regions use the diminutive papi as a term of endearment for fathers, grandfathers and even sons.
Examples in context
- ¡Hola papá!Hi dad!
- Hola papá, ¿cómo estás?Hi dad, how are you?
- Hola papá, ¿vienes a cenar?Hi dad, are you coming to dinner?
Example conversation
Lucía greets her father when he arrives at the house.
- Lucía¡Hola papá! Qué bueno verte.Hi dad! It is good to see you.
- JavierHola, Lucía. ¿Cómo te ha ido hoy?Hello, Lucía. How has your day been?
- LucíaMuy bien, gracias por preguntar.Very well, thanks for asking.
- JavierMe alegra mucho escucharlo.I am very happy to hear 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.
