What does 아빠 (appa) mean?
- 아빠appa
Dad
Casual: friends and people younger than you
아빠 (appa) means "dad" or "daddy" and is the everyday word Koreans use for their father. It is warm and casual, like "Dad" in English.
Where it comes from
아빠 is a native Korean word. The fuller, more respectful word for father is 아버지.
How to use 아빠
Children use 아빠 all the time, and many adults keep using it, especially daughters. Some sons start saying 아버지 as they grow up, particularly in more traditional families.
Like 엄마, it is often paired with 우리: 우리 아빠 means "my dad." You may also hear a wife call her husband 아빠 in front of the kids, as in "Ask Dad."
Do not use 아빠 for someone else's father. Say 아버님 or 아버지 instead, which sound respectful.
Examples
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Calling your dad on his birthday
A child waiting for dad to get home
Talking about your family in class
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 아버지 | father | More respectful, used in formal speech. |
| 아버님 | father (honorific) | For someone else's father or a father-in-law. |
| 딸바보 | dad who dotes on his daughter | Fond slang, literally "daughter fool." |
Questions learners ask
Is appa the same as abeoji?
Both mean father. 아빠 is casual and warm, like "dad," while 아버지 is more respectful, like "father."
Can grown-ups say appa?
Yes. Plenty of adults, especially daughters, call their father 아빠 their whole life.