Portuguese · People & Family
"Dad" in Portuguese: pai
o pai
Note: affectionate: papai
Dad in Portuguese is pai, and the cuddly call form is papai. Children shout papai across the room, while adults usually say meu pai when telling stories. Both forms keep the short stem pai.
A child calling
Pai, vem brincar comigo!Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce pai
Say it
pah-PIE
/ˈpaj/
papai: pah-PIE. Stress the last syllable like pai.
"Dad" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| papai | dad, daddy Affectionate call form and warm reference. | Affectionate call form and warm reference. |
| pai | dad, father Neutral noun used by adults for "dad" too. | Neutral noun used by adults for "dad" too. |
| meu pai | my dad Default adult way to talk about your dad. | Default adult way to talk about your dad. |
| paizinho | dear dad Affectionate diminutive. | Affectionate diminutive. |
| pai corre | stay-at-home / hands-on dad (slangy) Informal talk about a dad deep in daily childcare. | Informal talk about a dad deep in daily childcare. |
How to use pai in real life
- 1A child calling
Pai, vem brincar comigo!
Dad, come play with me!
Pai works as a direct call; papai is the warmer option.
- 2Adult conversation
Meu pai me ensinou a dirigir.
My dad taught me to drive.
Meu pai is the usual adult narrative form.
- 3On the phone
Oi, pai. Você já chegou em casa?
Hi, dad. Are you home yet?
Adults often drop to plain pai when addressing him.
Mistakes English speakers make with pai
Incorrect: Oi, dad!
Correct: Oi, pai! / Oi, papai!
Use pai or papai in Portuguese, not English dad.
Incorrect: Minha papai chegou.
Correct: Meu papai chegou. / Meu pai chegou.
Pai and papai are masculine: use meu.
Good to know
Like mamãe, papai is affectionate and common with children. Adult friends usually say meu pai in stories. In Portugal, pai is the same; papá appears as an affectionate option.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Waiting for your dad after a football match
ChatPal
Seu pai vem te buscar depois do jogo?
Is your dad picking you up after the game?
You
Vem sim. O papai estaciona sempre na mesma rua.
Yes. Dad always parks on the same street.
ChatPal
Ele torce para o mesmo time que você?
Does he support the same team as you?
You
Claro. Meu pai nunca perde um clássico na TV.
Of course. My dad never misses a derby on TV.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Dad" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Dad" in Portuguese
Is papai only for kids?
Kids use it most, but adults can say it for warmth. In neutral stories, prefer meu pai.
How do I address my dad directly?
Pai or papai. Oi, pai works well for adult children.
What is the feminine match for papai?
Mamãe. The pair is papai and mamãe.
Do Portuguese speakers use papá?
In Portugal, papá is a common affectionate dad form. Brazilians lean on papai.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
