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papa

papa

83 1.6
An informal word a child uses for their father
  • noun
  • /ˈpɑːpə/
  • Baby Talk
translation icon : papá
  • When I get home from school, I like to play games with papa.

The night before she and Papa left for America.

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Examples

  • And mama and papa, where are they?

  • My heart slammed against my ribs when I saw my papa standing next to Mr. Wentworth and his son.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The night before she and Papa left for America.

  • This is my dad, my Papa and me.

  • Sure wish your mama and papa could see you now.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • So you are his papa?

  • When your papa was born, I was on the road, selling cooking things.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Brenna decided to make her papa proud of her and to behave like a proper young lady.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Brenna felt safest when her papa was there because his loud snores always lulled her back to sleep.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • My papa always tells the best stories before bedtime.

Synonyms

father
vspapa
1.0

A man who has a child

is the informal child address rather than a formal or neutral term
dad
vspapa
  • Informal
1.0

A man who is your father

is more specifically a child-directed informal form used by or to young children
daddy
vspapa
  • Baby Talk
1.0

An informal name a child uses for their father

is the childlike informal word often used by or to young children
old man
vspapa
  • Informal
312 1.4

A casual word for one's father

is the direct child address rather than an adult colloquial reference
pop
vspapa
  • Informal
252 8.2

A person's father, used as a friendly name

is the more child-focused informal word rather than general casual speech
papi
vspapa
  • Informal
98 9.0

A father or grandfather someone calls in a loving way

is the childlike informal English form rather than a cultural loanword
baba
vspapa
  • Informal
43 8.5

A warm word some families use for father or grandfather

is the child-directed informal English form rather than a cultural family term
pa
vspapa
  • Informal
35 8.2

A father's informal name

is the same informal child address but often sounds more affectionate
padre
vspapa
30 6.2

A Catholic priest in Spanish-speaking countries or a father

is the informal child word used specifically by or to young children
dada
vspapa
  • Baby Talk
16 9.1

A young child's word for father

is broader, covering child speech beyond the infant babble stage
poppa
vspapa
  • Informal
2 8.2

A familiar loving name a child uses for their father

is similar but the key stresses child use more strongly
pappa
vspapa
  • Baby Talk
1 8.1

A word children use for their father

means the same but is an alternative childlike form
paps
vspapa
  • Informal
9.9

A friendly name for your father

is the single familiar child form used by or to young children

Idioms

come to papa
  • Informal
9.9

An excited shout when someone really wants something before they get it

Compounds

baby papa
  • Slang
8.4

A man who is the father of a woman's child, often when they are not together

Sarcorhamphus papa
  • Specialized
9.9

A large black and white vulture with a colorful bare head

How Affectionate

papa
  • Baby Talk
83 1.6
dad
  • Informal
1.0
father
1.0

Surface Forms

papa singular
papas plural

Etymology

The word papa comes from baby talk — babies often make the simple sound pa, and many languages turned that sound into the word for 'father'. That's why papa feels friendly and childlike, just like pa or 'dad'.