papá
/paˈpa/masculine
The Spanish word pa means father.
The term pa is an informal, shortened version of papá used in casual speech to mean dad or papa.
Meaning: father (noun)
Which one should you use?
While pa is a casual shortening, the standard form is papá. Other informal variations include papi, which is an affectionate way to say dad or daddy and papito, which is an endearing term for dad or daddy.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
pa is informal and used in casual speech. Similarly, papi and papito are both informal, with papi being affectionate and papito being endearing.
How do you pronounce it?
/paˈpa/
Did you know?
- Spanish speakers distinguish between papá and papa using a written accent mark, as papa without the accent means 'potato'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, papi is not only for fathers but is frequently used as a romantic term of endearment for a husband or boyfriend.
- While pa is a common shortening for father, in some Spanish-speaking Caribbean contexts, it can also be used as a friendly filler or a way to address a male peer, similar to 'man' or 'dude' in English.
Examples in context
- Mi papá es muy alto.My dad is very tall.
- ¿Dónde está mi papá?Where is my dad?
- Amo a mi papá.I love my dad.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are talking about a family party.
- MateoLucía, ¿viene tu papá a la fiesta?Lucía, is your dad coming to the party?
- LucíaSí, mi papá llega mañana.Yes, my dad arrives tomorrow.
- Mateo¡Qué bueno! Me cae muy bien.That's great! I like him a lot.
- LucíaGracias, Mateo. Se lo diré.Thanks, Mateo. I will tell him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pa” translations and entries papá, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
