パパ
papa[pa̠pa̠]
The Japanese word for papa is パパ (papa), an informal word for father used by children and within close families.
パパ is used by young children, and sometimes adults in a close family, to talk to or about their father.
Which one should you use?
お父さん is the standard, polite way to refer to your own father or someone else's father. 父 (chichi) is used in formal or humble situations, such as when talking about your own father to a stranger. Otōsama is a very formal way to address a father.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
パパ is informal and is best kept for very close family settings.
How do you pronounce it?
It is pronounced papa, as in English.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use パパ when speaking to a stranger or in a formal setting about your own father. Use 父 instead.
Did you know?
- In modern Japanese pop culture, the term パパ is sometimes used to describe a 'sugar daddy' who provides financial support for a younger partner.
- While English speakers use 'papa' or 'daddy' to show affection, using パパ in Japan can sometimes signal that a person is being 'spoiled' or lacks maturity. This is because the term is so deeply associated with the early childhood stage.
- The word パパ is written in Katakana, the script reserved for foreign loanwords, to visually signal that it is not a native Japanese word.
Examples in context
- パパはラテン語の素養もあったのです。Papa had a classical education.Here パパ is used as a name for the speaker's father.Tatoeba #74442 by fcbond, translation #329277 by fcbond
- パパサウスでは、おいしい家庭的なごはんを食べれます。At Papa South, you can eat delicious homestyle food.In this sentence パパ is part of a restaurant name.Tatoeba #355101 by Scott, translation #407533 by Scott
- パパは今どこにいますか？Papa wa ima doko ni imasu ka?Where is papa now?
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are talking at home.
- 健太 Kentaパパはもう帰ってきた？Papa wa mou kaette kita?Has Daddy come home yet?
- 陽葵 Himariううん、まだだよ。Uun, mada da yo.No, not yet.
- 健太 Kentaパパに本を読んでもらいたいな。Papa ni hon o yonde moraitai na.I want Daddy to read a book to me.
- 陽葵 Himari私も！一緒にお願いしよう。Watashi mo! Issho ni onegai shiyou.Me too! Let's ask him together.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry パパ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
