How to pronounce papa
Say it like PAH-puh. Papa has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce papa. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PAH
- puh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Papa pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- puhGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of papa
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2.
British respelling: puh-PAH.
What does papa mean?
- an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
Where does papa come from?
From French papa, from Middle French papa, from Old French papa, from Latin papa, probably originally a reduplicated imitation of a child's early efforts at vocalizing Latin pater (“father”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying papa
How do you pronounce papa?
Say PAH-puh. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɑˌpʌ/. In British English it is /pəˈpɑː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in papa?
Papa has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PAH). Broken into parts: PAH · puh.
Is papa pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2. The British form is /pəˈpɑː/ (puh-PAH).