# Abba

/ˈæbə/ (US) · /ˈæbɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abba
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. religious title for God

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a special word for 'father' used when talking to or about God in the Bible.

For teachers: an Aramaic word for 'father' used as an intimate and honorific title for God in the New Testament and Christian liturgy.

- In the prayer, the speaker addressed God as Abba to show a close relationship.
- The theologian argued that the use of 'Abba' in the scriptures signifies a unique level of intimacy between the believer and the divine.

Usage: Usually capitalized when referring to the deity.

### 3. religious leader title

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a title for a high-ranking leader in some Eastern Christian churches.

For teachers: an honorific title bestowed upon bishops or patriarchs in the Syriac, Coptic, and Ethiopic churches, or upon certain Jewish scholars.

- The monks showed great respect to the Abba during his visit to the monastery.
- Historical documents from the Coptic church refer to the patriarch by the title of Abba, followed by his given name.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.