What does pa mean?
Pa is an informal noun meaning one's father. It is especially associated with British, Australian, and New Zealand English and has a warm, familiar quality that reflects its use in family conversation and in the speech of children. A person might call a father “pa” when addressing him, mention him as “my pa,” or use the word retrospectively when talking about family life. Its informality also allows it to carry a faintly dismissive or familiar tone when applied to someone other than one's own father. In American English, dad or pop is more usual, although pa is readily understood. Pa is distinct from the similar-looking noun paw, which denotes an animal's foot or footlike part. Although usually affectionate at home, pa is not normally used in formal contexts such as business, academic writing, or official descriptions of a person's father.
nounAn informal word for one's father, especially when spoken by a child or used within a family.
- An informal term for one's father or dad.
"Wait until your pa gets home, and then we can go to the beach."
"Her pa taught her to play guitar when she was still in primary school."
"“Come downstairs, pa,” he called from the kitchen."
The standard plural is pas; the possessive form is pa's.
"The children called their fathers' old cars their pas' pride and joy."
A compact family word with a warm, distinctly informal voice, pa is also one of the most familiar ways New Zealanders and Australians refer to a father.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pa come from?
Pa developed as a shortened form of papa, itself a familiar nursery word for a father. The form belongs to the family of parental terms that recur across many languages, often in forms such as papa, baba, and tata. English pa became established as an informal family word and is now particularly associated with British, Australian, and New Zealand usage.
Related word forms
How pa is actually used
Pa is informal and affectionate, but it can also sound dismissive when used to refer to an older man. It is especially common in British, Australian, and New Zealand English, whereas pop is more characteristic of American English.
Easily confused with pa
Pa means father, whereas a paw is the foot or footlike part of an animal.