Papa Meaning in English
word
/ˈpɑˌpə/
PAH-puh
/pɐpˈɑː/
puh-PAH
Definition
'Papa' is an informal or affectionate word for someone's father. It can also mean the Pope, especially in historical, religious, or foreign-language contexts.
Usage & Nuances
For 'father', 'papa' sounds warm, childlike, or old-fashioned depending on region. In modern everyday English, 'dad' or 'daddy' is more common. Capitalize 'Papa' when used as a name. In religious meaning, 'the Pope' is usually far more common than 'the Papa' in English.
Spanish: papá - papa (sumo pontífice)Portuguese (BR): papai - papa (líder da Igreja Católica)Portuguese (PT): papá - papa (líder da Igreja Católica)Chinese (Simplified): 爸爸 - 教皇Chinese (Traditional): 爸爸 - 教宗Hindi: पापा - पोपArabic: بابا - الباباBengali: বাবা - পোপ (ধর্মীয়)Russian: папа - папа (Папа Римский)Japanese: パパ - ローマ教皇Vietnamese: bố - Giáo hoàngKorean: 아빠 - 교황Turkish: baba - papa (Katolik Kilisesi lideri)Urdu: ابو - پوپ (کیتھولک چرچ کا سربراہ)Indonesian: papa - Paus
Example Sentences
My papa reads to me every night.
basic
The children ran to Papa when he came home.
basic
Many people came to see the Papa in Rome.
basic
I used to sit on Papa's lap and listen to his stories.
natural
In that old book, the writer calls the Pope the Papa.
natural
Don't tell Papa yet — I want it to be a surprise.
natural