Spanish · People & Family
"Dad" in Spanish: papá
papá
Dad in Spanish is papá. Write the accent on the second a. It is warmer and more everyday than padre.
Calling from another room
¡Papá, ya está la cena!Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce papá
Say it
pah-PAH
/paˈpa/
pah-PAH. Stress the second syllable. The accent mark shows that stress.
"Dad" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| papá | dad / daddy Everyday affectionate word. | Everyday affectionate word. |
| mi papá | my dad Very common with kids and adults. | Very common with kids and adults. |
| ¡papá! | dad! Calling out or answering the phone. | Calling out or answering the phone. |
| papi | daddy Extra affectionate; common with little kids. | Extra affectionate; common with little kids. |
How to use papá in real life
- 1Calling from another room
¡Papá, ya está la cena!
Dad, dinner is ready!
¡Papá! is the natural call.
- 2Talking to a friend
Mi papá me lleva al partido.
My dad is taking me to the game.
Mi papá sounds warm and everyday.
- 3Text message
Papá, ¿puedes recogerme?
Dad, can you pick me up?
Short texts often start with Papá,
Mistakes English speakers make with papá
Incorrect: Hola, papa sin acento.
Correct: Hola, papá.
Write papá with the accent. Papa without it can mean the pope or look unfinished.
Incorrect: Mi papá es la mejor.
Correct: Mi papá es el mejor.
Papá is masculine. Say el mejor, not la mejor.
Good to know
Papá is the default warm word across Latin America. Papi is softer with young children.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Waiting for a ride after practice
ChatPal
¿Ya viene tu papá?
Is your dad coming yet?
You
Sí. Papá dijo que llega ya.
Yes. Dad said he's almost here.
ChatPal
Bien. Entonces esperamos aquí.
Good. Then let's wait here.
You
Mira, ahí está mi papá.
Look, there's my dad.
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 Spanish
Does papá need an accent?
Yes. Write papá. Without it, papa can mean the pope.
Is papá formal or informal?
Informal and affectionate. Padre is the more formal word.
Is papá masculine or feminine?
Masculine: mi papá, ese papá, un papá paciente.
What is papi?
A softer form of papá. Common with kids; with adults, tone matters.
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
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