I’m a French Canadian father raising his boy in South Korea. We are a trilingual family, and my son usually uses the Korean version of Dad to call me…’Appa’. I love it! This Father’s Day, I wanted to explore the diverse ways people across the globe refer to their dads with affection.

As we celebrate the irreplaceable role of fathers worldwide, let’s appreciate how a single word can convey so much love, respect, and gratitude in myriad tongues. This awesome guide unveils 95 heartwarming translations and regional variations of the term ‘dad’ from different countries, each carrying its own cultural nuance.

​Being A Father Figure

The relationship between a father and child is a universal constant, transcending geographical and linguistic borders. Though the specific words may differ, the underlying sentiment remains consistent – an expression of profound appreciation for the man who nurtures, guides, and selflessly dedicates himself to his family’s well-being.

Just as fatherhood takes on unique forms in various cultures, the words used to address dads reflect the rich tapestry of human diversity. From the affectionate diminutives of European languages to the respectful tones of Asian tongues, each term carries its own linguistic heritage and emotional resonance.

The Word Father In Different Languages

1. 🇰🇷 Korean: Appa (아빠), Abeoji (아버지)

In the Korean language, the term ‘Appa’ is a warm and familiar way to address one’s father, often used by children. ‘Abeoji’, on the other hand, conveys a more formal and respectful tone, suitable for formal occasions or when referring to someone else’s father.

2. 🇯🇵 Japanese: Otōsan (お父さん), Chichioya (父親)

The Japanese language offers two primary terms for ‘dad’: ‘Otōsan’, a polite and respectful form, and ‘Chichioya’, which holds a more formal connotation. Both expressions reflect the deep-rooted cultural values of filial piety and respect for elders in Japanese society.

3. 🇨🇳 Mandarin Chinese: Bàba (爸爸), Fùqīn (父亲)

In Mandarin Chinese, ‘Bàba’ is the common and affectionate way to address one’s father, while ‘Fùqīn’ carries a more formal and respectful tone, often used in formal settings or when referring to someone else’s father.

4. 🇮🇳 Hindi: Pitā (पिता), Bāp (बाप)

The Hindi language offers two primary terms for ‘dad’: ‘Pitā’, which holds a more formal and respectful connotation, and ‘Bāp’, a more colloquial and affectionate term used in informal settings.

5. 🇪🇸 Spanish: Papá (Papá), Padre (Padre)

In Spanish, ‘Papá’ is the common and endearing way to address one’s father, while ‘Padre’ holds a more formal and respectful tone, often used in formal settings or when referring to someone else’s father.

6. 🇫🇷 French: Papa (Papa), Père (Père)

The French language offers two primary terms for ‘dad’: ‘Papa’, a warm and affectionate way to address one’s father, and ‘Père’, which carries a more formal and respectful connotation.

7. 🇩🇪 German: Vater (Vater), Papa (Papa)

In German, ‘Vater’ is the formal and respectful term for ‘father’, while ‘Papa’ is a more affectionate and informal way to address one’s dad.

8. 🇮🇹 Italian: Papà (Papà), Padre (Padre)

Similar to Spanish and French, the Italian language uses ‘Papà’ as a warm and affectionate term for ‘dad’, while ‘Padre’ carries a more formal and respectful connotation.

9. 🇷🇺 Russian: Otets (Отец), Papa (Папа)

In Russian, ‘Otets’ is the formal and respectful term for ‘father’, while ‘Papa’ is a more affectionate and informal way to address one’s dad.

10. 🇵🇱 Polish: Ojciec (Ojciec), Tata (Tata)

The Polish language offers ‘Ojciec’ as the formal and respectful term for ‘father’, while ‘Tata’ is a more affectionate and informal way to address one’s dad.

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Translation Of The Word Dad

11. 🇹🇷 Turkish: Baba (Baba)

In Turkish, the term ‘Baba’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

12. 🇳🇱 Dutch: Vader (Vader), Pappie (Pappie)

The Dutch language uses ‘Vader’ as the formal and respectful term for ‘father’, while ‘Pappie’ is a more affectionate and informal way to address one’s dad.

13. 🇸🇦 Arabic: Ab (أب), Yabba (يبا)

In Arabic, ‘Ab’ is the formal and respectful term for ‘father’, while ‘Yabba’ is a more affectionate and informal way to address one’s dad.

14. 🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pai (Pai), Papai (Papai)

The Portuguese language offers ‘Pai’ as the formal and respectful term for ‘father’, while ‘Papai’ is a more affectionate and informal way to address one’s dad.

15. 🇸🇪 Swedish: Pappa (Pappa), Far (Far)

In Swedish, ‘Pappa’ is the common and affectionate way to address one’s father, while ‘Far’ carries a more formal and respectful tone.

16. 🇳🇴 Norwegian: Pappa (Pappa), Far (Far)

Similar to Swedish, the Norwegian language uses ‘Pappa’ as the common and affectionate term for ‘dad’, while ‘Far’ holds a more formal and respectful connotation.

17. 🇩🇰 Danish: Far (Far)

In Danish, the term ‘Far’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

18. 🇫🇮 Finnish: Isä (Isä)

The Finnish language uses ‘Isä’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

19. 🇮🇱 Hebrew: Abba (אבא)

In Hebrew, the term ‘Abba’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

20. 🇬🇷 Greek: Pateras (Πατέρας)

The Greek language uses ‘Pateras’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Different Names: Same Love

21. 🇷🇴 Romanian: Tată (Tată)

In Romanian, the term ‘Tată’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

22. 🇭🇺 Hungarian: Apa (Apa)

The Hungarian language uses ‘Apa’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

23. 🇨🇿 Czech: Otec (Otec)

In Czech, the term ‘Otec’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

24. 🇸🇰 Slovak: Otec (Otec)

Similar to Czech, the Slovak language uses ‘Otec’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

25. 🇧🇬 Bulgarian: Bashtа (Баща)

The Bulgarian language uses ‘Bashtа’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

26. 🇷🇸 Serbian: Otac (Отац)

In Serbian, the term ‘Otac’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

27. 🇭🇷 Croatian: Otac (Otac)

Similar to Serbian, the Croatian language uses ‘Otac’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

28. 🇸🇮 Slovenian: Oče (Oče)

The Slovenian language uses ‘Oče’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

29. 🇲🇰 Macedonian: Tatko (Татко)

In Macedonian, the term ‘Tatko’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

30. 🇺🇦 Ukrainian: Bat’ko (Батько)

The Ukrainian language uses ‘Bat’ko’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Your Old Man Will Love These

31. 🇧🇾 Belarusian: Bats’ka (Бацька)

In Belarusian, the term ‘Bats’ka’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

32. 🇱🇹 Lithuanian: Tėvas (Tėvas)

The Lithuanian language uses ‘Tėvas’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

33. 🇱🇻 Latvian: Tēvs (Tēvs)

In Latvian, the term ‘Tēvs’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

34. 🇪🇪 Estonian: Isa (Isa)

The Estonian language uses ‘Isa’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

35. 🇮🇷 Persian/Farsi: Pedar (پدر)

In Persian/Farsi, the term ‘Pedar’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

36. 🇦🇫 Pashto: Plār (پلار)

The Pashto language uses ‘Plār’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

37. 🇺🇿 Uzbek: Ota (Ота)

In Uzbek, the term ‘Ota’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

38. 🇰🇿 Kazakh: Äke (Әке)

The Kazakh language uses ‘Äke’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

39. 🇰🇬 Kyrgyz: Ata (Ата)

In Kyrgyz, the term ‘Ata’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

40. 🇹🇯 Tajik: Padar (Падар)

The Tajik language uses ‘Padar’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

41. 🇦🇿 Azerbaijani: Ata (Ата)

In Azerbaijani, the term ‘Ata’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

42. 🇦🇲 Armenian: Hayrik (Հայրիկ)

The Armenian language uses ‘Hayrik’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

43. 🇬🇪 Georgian: Mama (Მამა)

In Georgian, the term ‘Mama’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

44. 🇲🇳 Mongolian: Aav (Аав)

The Mongolian language uses ‘Aav’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

45. 🇰🇭 Khmer: Ovpuk (ឪពុក)

In Khmer, the term ‘Ovpuk’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

46. 🇲🇲 Burmese: Phe (အဖေ)

The Burmese language uses ‘Phe’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

47. 🇹🇭 Thai: Phor (พ่อ)

In Thai, the term ‘Phor’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

48. 🇻🇳 Vietnamese: Bố (Bố)

The Vietnamese language uses ‘Bố’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

49. 🇮🇩 Indonesian: Ayah (Ayah)

In Indonesian, the term ‘Ayah’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

50. 🇲🇾 Malay: Ayah (Ayah)

Similar to Indonesian, the Malay language uses ‘Ayah’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

51. 🇵🇭 Filipino: Ama (Ama), Itay (Itay)

The Filipino language offers two terms for ‘father’: ‘Ama’, which is more formal, and ‘Itay’, which is a more affectionate and informal way to address one’s dad.

52. 🇲🇻 Maldivian: Bappa (Bappa)

In Maldivian, the term ‘Bappa’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

53. 🇱🇰 Sinhala: Piya (පියා)

The Sinhala language uses ‘Piya’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

54. 🇧🇩 Bengali: Pitā (পিতা)

In Bengali, the term ‘Pitā’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

55. 🇳🇵 Nepali: Buwā (बुबा)

The Nepali language uses ‘Buwā’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

56. 🇱🇰 Tamil: Appā (அப்பா)

In Tamil, the term ‘Appā’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense ### 57. 🇲🇱 Malayalam: Achchan (അച്ഛൻ)

The Malayalam language uses ‘Achchan’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

58. 🇹🇱 Telugu: Tandri (తండ్రి)

In Telugu, the term ‘Tandri’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

59. 🇰🇳 Kannada: Tande (ತಂದೆ)

The Kannada language uses ‘Tande’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

60. 🇲🇷 Marathi: Vaḍīla (वडील)

In Marathi, the term ‘Vaḍīla’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

61. 🇬🇺 Gujarati: Pitā (પિતા)

The Gujarati language uses ‘Pitā’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

62. 🇵🇰 Urdu: Bāp (باپ)

In Urdu, the term ‘Bāp’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

63. 🇧🇩 Bengali: Bābā (বাবা)

The Bengali language offers ‘Bābā’ as an affectionate and informal way to address one’s father.

64. 🇵🇰 Punjabi: Pitā (ਪਿਤਾ)

In Punjabi, the term ‘Pitā’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

65. 🇱🇰 Sinhala: Thāththa (තාත්තා)

The Sinhala language uses ‘Thāththa’ as an affectionate and informal way to address one’s father.

66. 🇲🇻 Divehi: Bappa (ބައްޕަ)

In Divehi, the term ‘Bappa’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

67. 🇲🇼 Malagasy: Ray (Ray)

The Malagasy language uses ‘Ray’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

68. 🇷🇼 Kinyarwanda: Se (Se)

In Kinyarwanda, the term ‘Se’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

69. 🇺🇬 Luganda: Taata (Taata)

The Luganda language uses ‘Taata’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

70. 🇸🇳 Wolof: Baay (Baay)

In Wolof, the term ‘Baay’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

71. 🇸🇴 Somali: Aabe (Aabe)

The Somali language uses ‘Aabe’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

72. 🇰🇪 Swahili: Baba (Baba)

In Swahili, the term ‘Baba’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

73. 🇲🇬 Malagasy: Ray (Ray)

The Malagasy language also uses ‘Ray’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

74. 🇲🇿 Tsonga: Tatana (Tatana)

In Tsonga, the term ‘Tatana’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

75. 🇿🇼 Shona: Baba (Baba)

The Shona language uses ‘Baba’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

76. 🇿🇦 Xhosa: Utata (Utata)

In Xhosa, the term ‘Utata’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

77. 🇿🇦 Zulu: Ubaba (Ubaba)

The Zulu language uses ‘Ubaba’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

78. 🇳🇦 Oshiwambo: Tate (Tate)

In Oshiwambo, the term ‘Tate’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

79. 🇲🇽 Nahuatl: Tātzin (Tātzin)

The Nahuatl language uses ‘Tātzin’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

80. 🇵🇪 Quechua: Tayta (Tayta)

In Quechua, the term ‘Tayta’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

81. 🇧🇷 Tupi: Ub (Ub)

The Tupi language uses ‘Ub’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

82. 🇨🇱 Mapuche: Chaw (Chaw)

In Mapuche, the term ‘Chaw’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

83. 🇨🇷 Bribri: Ë́ (Ë́)

The Bribri language uses ‘Ë́’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

84. 🇯🇲 Jamaican Patois: Dadda (Dadda)

In Jamaican Patois, the term ‘Dadda’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

85. 🇭🇹 Haitian Creole: Papa (Papa)

The Haitian Creole language uses ‘Papa’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

86. 🇨🇺 Cuban Spanish: Papi (Papi)

In Cuban Spanish, the term ‘Papi’ is used as an affectionate and informal way to address one’s father.

87. 🇦🇼 Papiamento: Tata (Tata)

The Papiamento language uses ‘Tata’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

88. 🇸🇷 Sranan Tongo: Daddy (Daddy)

In Sranan Tongo, the term ‘Daddy’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

89. 🇧🇿 Garifuna: Nugumau (Nugumau)

The Garifuna language uses ‘Nugumau’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

90. 🇳🇮 Miskito: Aikra (Aikra)

In Miskito, the term ‘Aikra’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

91. 🇬🇫 Guyanese Creole: Daadee (Daadee)

The Guyanese Creole language uses ‘Daadee’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

92. 🇨🇱 Rapa Nui: Matua (Matua)

In Rapa Nui, the term ‘Matua’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

93. 🇵🇼 Palauan: Ơbŭ (Ơbŭ)

The Palauan language uses ‘Ơbŭ’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

94. 🇲🇭 Marshallese: Jemen (Jemen)

In Marshallese, the term ‘Jemen’ is used to address one’s father in both formal and informal settings, carrying a sense of respect and affection.

95. 🇰🇮 Gilbertese: Tamara (Tamara)

The Gilbertese language uses ‘Tamara’ as the term for ‘father’, which can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Conclusion

Whichever your first language is, we can all relate to the nicknames we give our daddios. This fun guide show you the incredible diversity of different cultures around the world, each with its unique way of expressing the profound bond between a father and child.

While the sounds of the words may differ, the underlying sentiment remains universal – a deep love and affection for the man who embodies strength, guidance, and unconditional love. Your one and only Appa!