papa
n. countablen. a casual and warm word for father. Children often use it, but adults might use it too when talking to their own fathers.
n. an informal or hypocoristic term for a father. Common in various languages and dialects, often used as a direct address or a familiar reference within a family unit.
I need to call my papa to wish him a happy birthday.
The young boy ran across the park to meet his papa after school finished for the day.
In many Mediterranean cultures, the term papa carries a weight of patriarchal respect while maintaining an intimacy that the more formal 'father' lacks in daily conversation.
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 vocalising Latin pater (“father”). Compare Ancient Greek πάππας (páppas, “papa, daddy”).
Often capitalized when used as a proper noun to address one's own father directly.