pa

See also: Appendix:Variations of "pa"

Languages (76)

Translingual • English

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Afrikaans • Albanian • Anuta • Ao • Aragonese • Arritinngithigh • Asturian • Awa-Cuaiquer • Basque • Big Nambas • Breton • Catalan • Cebuano • Chut • Classical Nahuatl • Dakota • Dutch • Esperanto • Fala • Galician • Garo • Gun • Haitian Creole • Hiw • Hokkien • Japanese • Kabuverdianu • Kapampangan • K'iche' • Koro (India) • Latvian • Liangmai Naga • Livonian • Louisiana Creole • Luba-Kasai • Macanese • Mandarin • Middle English • Mizo • Mokilese • Mono (California) • Muong • Nguôn • Occitan • Old Prussian • Old Tupi • Palu'e • Papiamentu • Paraguayan Guarani • Polish • Ponosakan • Portuguese • Romanian • Sassarese • Serbo-Croatian • Shona • Skou • Slavomolisano • Slovene • Spanish • Sumerian • Swahili • Tagalog • Tho • Tshobdun • Unami • Walloon • Welsh • West Makian • Wutunhua • Yola • Yoruba • Zazaki • Zou

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Page categories

Translingual

Etymology

Clipping of English Panjabi, from Classical Persian پنجابی (panjābī).

Symbol

pa

1. (international standards) ISO 639-1 language code for Punjabi.

See also

• Wiktionary’s coverage of Punjabi terms

English

Etymology 1

Clipping of papa.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɑː/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑː
• Homophones: pah (Etymology 2); par (non-rhotic); paw (cot–caught merger, father-bother merger)

Noun

pa (plural pas)

1. (colloquial) Father, papa.

   Synonyms: da (Irish), dad, daddy, papa, pater, pappy, pop, poppy

   Coordinate term: ma

2. (colloquial) Grandpa, grandfather.

   Synonyms: grandpapa, grandpappy, grandpop, grandpoppy, pappy, pop, poppy; big daddy (dialectal)

Usage notes

• Often capitalized when used to refer to a specific person; see Pa.

Hey, Pa, I'd like you to meet my friend Jamie.

Derived terms

• godpa
• ma-and-pa

Related terms

• grandpa

Translations

father

• Dutch: pa (nl) m
• French: papa (fr) m
• German: Vati (de) m
• Italian: papà (it) m, babbo (it) m
• Macedonian: та́то m (táto)
• Portuguese: papai (pt) m, papá (pt)
• Russian: па́па (ru) m (pápa)
• Spanish: papá (es) m
• Tamil: பா (ta) (pā)
• Volapük: fatül (vo)

grandfather

• Dutch: opa (nl) m
• French: pépé (fr) m
• German: Opa (de) m
• Italian: nonno (it) m
• Macedonian: де́до (mk) m (dédo)
• Portuguese: vovô (pt) m, avozinho
• Russian: де́душка (ru) m (déduška)
• Spanish: abuelo (es) m, abuelito (es) m

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Māori pā.

Noun

pa (plural pas)

1. (New Zealand, now historical) A fortified Maori settlement, especially of pre-European times. [from 19th c.]
   • 2003, Michael King, The Penguin History of Aotearoa New Zealand, Penguin, published 2023, page 71:

     The very existence of fortified pā was often a sign that those who lived near such complexes sought to discourage attack and wanted to make conflict less likely, not more so.

   • 2020, Sujit Sivasundaram, Waves Across the South, William Collins, published 2021, page 68:

     A pa or Māori defence fortification appears at a height on the hill above the bay.

2. (New Zealand) Any Maori village or settlement; a kainga. [from 19th c.]

Alternative forms

• pah

Anagrams

• A&P, AP, Ap, ap, ap.

Afrikaans

Etymology

From Dutch pa.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

pa (plural pa's)

1. dad, father

Synonyms

• pappa
• vader

Antonyms

• ma

Derived terms

• oupa

Albanian

Etymology

From Proto-Albanian *apa, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó (“off, away”). Cognate to Messapic [script needed] (apa, “from, out of, by”), Ancient Greek ἀπό (apó, “away, off”), Sanskrit अप (apá).

Preposition

pa (+ accusative)

1. without, minus
2. not counting, even without counting

Antonyms

• me

Derived terms

• prapë
• pas
• patjetër

Particle

pa

1. (before imperatives) attenuates a command or suggestion

   Pa më thuaj ― Tell me

Anuta

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *fa, from Proto-Oceanic *pat, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *əpat, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *əpat, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *əpat, from Proto-Austronesian *Səpat.

Numeral

pa

1. four

Ao

Etymology

From Proto-Central Naga *pa, from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *pa (“man”).

Pronunciation

• (Chungli) IPA^(key): /pa˧/, [pa˧]

Pronoun

pa

1. (Chungli, Mongsen) he, it (third person pronoun)

Further reading

• Clark, Mary M. (1893), Ao Naga grammar with illustrative phrases and vocabulary, Molung: Assam Secretariat Printing Office, page 10
• A. R. Coupe (2007), A grammar of Mongsen Ao, Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, →ISBN, page 89

Aragonese

Alternative forms

• ta (chistavín, benasqués)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa/
• Syllabification: pa
• Rhymes: -a

Preposition

pa

1. for, to (expressing a recipient)

   La zagala va crompar un regalo de nadal ta yo.

   The girl bought a Christmas gift for me.

   M'aganaría de fer un truco de machia pa vusaltros.

   I'd like to perform a magic trick for you all.

2. to, in order to, so, for (expressing the intended purpose of an action)

   Estudio cada nueit sin descansar pa conseguir un treballo decent.

   I study every night tirelessly so that I get a decent job.

   Saldré luego pa evitar el trafico.

   I am going to leave early to avoid traffic.

3. by, due, due on, due by (expressing a deadline)

   Necesito la tuya decisión pa esta semana.

   I need your decision by this week.

   Es vuestros treballos grupals son ta'l viernes.

   Your group projects are due on Friday.

4. for (expressing contrast from what is expected)

   Pa estar un turista estadounidense, él ye prou respetuoso.

   For an American tourist, he is pretty respectful.

5. for, to, in one's opinion, as far as one is concerned (expressing an opinion, perception or perspective)

   Pa yo, las rosas bllancas son més bonicas que las royas.

   For me, the white roses are more beautiful than the red ones.

   Pa'l mio germano, la suya muller tien tota la razón.

   As far as my brother is concerned, his wife is totally in the right.

   Vam treballar pa la mesma empresa encara que no al mesmo tiempo.

   We worked for the same company but not at the same time.

   Ella treballó pa Microsoft muitos anyos, pero agora treballa pa Apple.

   She worked for Microsoft for many years, but now she works for Apple.

Arritinngithigh

Noun

pa

1. liver

References

• Claire Bowern, Harold James Koch, Australian Languages: Classification and the Comparative Method (2004), page 411

Asturian

Etymology

Compare Spanish pa, a contracted form of para.

Preposition

pa

1. for

Usage notes

• The preposition pa contracts to p' before a word beginning with a- or ha-: p'Asturies (for Asturias), p'haber (for to have)

Derived terms

• p'
• pal

Awa-Cuaiquer

Noun

pa

1. sun

References

• Curnow, T. J. (1997). A grammar of Awa Pit (Cuaiquer): An indigenous language of south-western Colombia. The Australian National University.

Basque

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

pa inan

1. kiss

Big Nambas

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa/
• Rhymes: -a

Adjective

pa

1. small

References

• Big Nambas Grammar Pacific Linguistics - G.J. Fox

Breton

Conjunction

pa

1. when, if

Catalan

Etymology

Inherited from Old Catalan pa (attested at least once as pan), from Latin pānis, possibly derived from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂- (“to graze, feed”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central, Balearic, Valencia) [ˈpa]

• Audio (Valencia):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -a

Noun

pa m (plural pans)

1. bread

Derived terms

• forn de pa
• pa amb tomàquet
• pa de cada dia
• pa de pessic
• panera
• panet

References

• “pa”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007
• “pa”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2026
• “pa” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “pa” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

Cebuano

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpa/ [ˈpa]

Adverb

pá (Badlit spelling ᜉ)

1. (after an adjective) marks that something is/was still the case when eventually it wouldn't be so; is still

   Antonym: na

   katong puti pa ang balay

   when the house was still colored white

   bag-o pa ni nga teknolohiya

   this technology is still brand new

2. (after verb in the inchoative aspect) indicates that the action is still ongoing; still (imperfect aspect)

   Synonym: gihapon

   niadto pa siya ― he is still (in the process of) going

   1. (+ negator "wala") indicates that an action has not yet happened; yet

      wala pa siya nikaon ― he has not yet eaten

3. (after verb in the prospective aspect) indicates obligation or requirement to do the action; still have to

   moadto pa siya ― he still has to go

   1. (+ negator "dili") indicates that an action will not be performed soon, but much later; will not ... for now

      dili pa siya moinom ― he wouldn't drink (alcohol) for now

4. (after an adjective, usually with mas) used in expressing the comparative degree of adjectives; more, -er

   Murag (mas) taas pa ang punuan sa balay. ― The tree looks taller than the house.

   Mas gikapoy pa ka nako. ― You are more tired than me.

Adjective

pa (Badlit spelling ᜉ)

1. (after pronouns or names) indicates continuation in the performance of a task by the person as mentioned

   Antonym: na

   ikaw pa ― it's still your turn

   si Tonyo pa ― it's still Tonyo's turn

Derived terms

• agad pa
• anha pa
• bason pa
• bisan pa
• daan pa
• diha pa
• gawas pa
• hain pa'y
• hinaot pa
• isa pa
• labaw pa
• labot pa
• lain pa'y ato
• maayo pa
• mao pa diay ato
• mao pa'y
• matod pa
• pa lang
• pa'y
• pa'y ako
• pa'y imo
• sa ato pa
• siya pa
• tayim pa
• unsa pa'y
• usa pa

Chut

Etymology

From Proto-Vietic *paː; cognate with Vietnamese ba.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /paː¹/

Numeral

pa

1. three

Classical Nahuatl

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /paː/

Verb

pā

1. (transitive) To dye

References

• Andrews, J. Richard (2003), Workbook for Introduction to Classical Nahuatl, revised edition, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, page 244
• Karttunen, Frances (1983), An Analytical Dictionary of Nahuatl, Austin: University of Texas Press, page 182

Dakota

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa/

Noun

pa

1. head

References

• http://fpcctalkindian.nativeweb.org/ (Lesson Three)

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /paː/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aː

Noun

pa m (plural pa's, diminutive paatje n)

1. pa, dad

Descendants

• → Papiamentu: pachi (from the diminutive)

Esperanto

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa/
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: pa

Interjection

pa

1. pah

Fala

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese pera.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa/
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: pa

Preposition

pa

1. to (indicates application of an adjective)
   • 2000, Domingo Frades Gaspar, Vamus a falal: Notas pâ coñocel y platical en nosa fala, Editora regional da Extremadura, Theme I, Chapter 3: Radós:

     A radón mais grandi pa defendela é que é nossa LENGUA MATERNA, a “primeira lengua que un indivíduu aprendi de maneira ínnconscienti duranti a sua infancia” i en ela han aprindiu a idel as primeiras palabras […]

     The greatest reason to defend it is that it is our NATIVE LANGUAGE, the “first language that an individual learns in an unconscious manner during his infancy” and in it learned how to say his first words […]

2. for (directed at, intended to belong to or to be appropriate for)
   • 2000, Domingo Frades Gaspar, Vamus a falal: Notas pâ coñocel y platical en nosa fala, Editora regional da Extremadura, Theme I, Chapter 4: ¿Guerras, moas?:

     Encontramus opiniós pa tos os gustus.

     We found opinions for every taste.

3. to, towards (indicates destination)
   • 2000, Domingo Frades Gaspar, Vamus a falal: Notas pâ coñocel y platical en nosa fala, Editora regional da Extremadura, Theme IX, Chapter 4: ¿Fala transerrana?:

     I nos, inda hoxii, con autonomía i tó siguimus idendu: “Vo pa Castilla”, […]

     And to this day we, with autonomy and everything, keep on saying: “I’ll go to Castille”, […]

References

• Valeš, Miroslav (2021), Diccionariu de A Fala: lagarteiru, mañegu, valverdeñu (web)‎^[1], 2nd edition, Minde, Portugal: CIDLeS, published 2022, →ISBN, page 215

Galician

Alternative forms

• pá, paa

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese paa, from Latin pāla (“shovel, spade”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈpaː]

Noun

pa f (plural pas)

1. shovel; spade (tool for digging and moving material)
2. windmill blade
3. the end of a paddle or oar with the blade
4. (anatomy, zootomy) incisor

References

• Seoane, Ernesto Xosé González; Granja, María Álvarez de la; Agrelo, Ana Isabel Boullón (2006–2022), “paa”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval [Dictionary of dictionaries of Medieval Galician] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Barreiro, Xavier Varela; Guinovart, Xavier Gómez (2006–2018), “paa”, in Corpus Xelmírez: corpus lingüístico da Galicia medieval [Corpus Xelmírez: linguistic corpus of Medieval Galicia] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “pa”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “pa”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “pa”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN

Garo

Alternative forms

• pagipa (formal)

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

pa

1. father

Gun

Etymology 1

Alternative forms

• kpá (Benin)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k͡pá/

Preposition

pá (Nigeria)

1. towards

Etymology 2

Cognates include Saxwe Gbe kpà, Aja (West Africa) kpa, Fon kpà

Alternative forms

• kpà (Benin)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k͡pà/

Verb

pà (Nigeria)

1. to cut, specifically hair

Derived terms

• pà dà (“to cut hair”)
• pà odà (“to cut hair”)

Etymology 3

Cognates include Saxwe Gbe kpà, Aja (West Africa) kpa, Fon kpà

Alternative forms

• kpà (Benin)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k͡pà/

Verb

pà (Nigeria)

1. to praise

Haitian Creole

Etymology

From French pas.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa/

Adverb

pa

1. not

Usage notes

• Double negatives (e.g. pa ... janm or pa ... anyen) are grammatically correct in Haitian Creole.

Hiw

Verb

pa

1. to finish, (be brought to an) end

Further reading

• Alexandre François, Pragmatic demotion and clause dependency: On two atypical subordinating strategies in the Lo-Toga and Hiw (Torres, Vanuatu) (2010), in Clause Linking and Clause Hierarchy (edited by Isabelle Bril)

Hokkien

For pronunciation and definitions of pa – see 吧. (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 吧).

Japanese

Romanization

pa

1. The hiragana syllable ぱ (pa) or the katakana syllable パ (pa) in Hepburn romanization.

Kabuverdianu

Etymology

From Portuguese para.

Preposition

pa

1. for
2. to

Kapampangan

Alternative forms

• p (text messaging)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpa/ [ˈpä]
• Hyphenation: pa

Etymology 1

Inherited from Proto-Austronesian *pa (“still, yet, til now, first (before doing something else)”). Cognate with Cebuano pa, Tagalog pa, Malagasy fa (“for, but, therefore, because, that”).

Adverb

pa

1. yet

   Synonyms: na, pamu

   Alinepa sinindi ing titinun na.

   S/he hasn't turned the rice cooker on yet.

2. still; eventually; in the future

   Synonyms: yaparin, itaparin, agyang na, agyampa

   Makabuklat yapa ing pasbul, ot alime isara?

   The door is still open, why don't you close it?

3. in addition, too

   Synonyms: pati, rin

   Ampo pa pala asin.

   Oh, and also salt.

4. in the past; before; even

   Synonyms: pati, rin, mo, man

   Makanita yapaman.

   It's like that even before.

Derived terms

• kapa
• kapamu
• paman
• pamo
• pamu
• panaman
• parin

Particle

pa

1. if; when

   Synonyms: nung, patie, anyang, paman, naman

   Muran pa, tuknangan ing lakad.

   When it rains, we will suspend our trip.

   Kapalaran pang manyabi.

   If only fate tells me.

2. more

   Synonyms: mas, lalu, misan pa, metung pa

   Mabiasa kapa at jandakapang pera.

   The more you learned, the more I'll give you money.

3. because; for a while; in a while

   Synonyms: kasi, uling, kaya, pangasaguli, pamu

   Mumuran pa anya tuknang tanapa.

   Let's stop for a while because it's still raining.

4. might as well; would rather

   Synonyms: mayapa, simap nang

   Kaburian kupang mate.

   I might as well die.

   Pilian kupang mate.

   I'd rather choose to be dead.

Etymology 2

Compare Tagalog pa.

Noun

pa

1. (informal, familiar, childish) clipping of papa

   Synonyms: papa, iba, tatang, tang, tata, ta

   Coordinate term: ma

K'iche'

Preposition

pa

1. in
2. at
3. on
4. to
5. into
6. toward
7. from
8. during

References

• Christenson, Allen J. (2003), Kʼicheʼ-English dictionary and Guide to the pronunciation of the Kʼicheʼ-Maya alphabet‎^[2], Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, →OCLC

Koro (India)

Noun

pa

1. arrow

Latvian

Etymology

From Proto-Balto-Slavic *pa, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂pó. Balto-Slavic cognates include Lithuanian pa-, Old Prussian pa-, po-, Proto-Slavic *po.

Preposition

pa (with accusative or dative)

1. on
2. along

   iet pa ceļu ― to walk along the road

3. to
4. in
5. through
6. during

   pa naktīm ― during night

7. by

   pa pastu ― by post

8. over

   pa radio ― over the radio

Liangmai Naga

Pronoun

pa (dual panai, plural paliu)

1. he, she

Livonian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latvian pa.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɑ/, [ˈpɑ]

Preposition

pa

1. by (indicates a steady progression)
   • 2012–2013, “pa”, in Tiit-Rein Viitso, Valts Ernštreits, editors, Līvõkīel-ēstikīel-lețkīel sõnārōntõz [Livonian-Estonian-Latvian Dictionary]‎^[3], Tartu, Riga: Tartu Ülikool, Latviešu valodas aģentūra:

     pa rǭziņ

     little by little

2. (proscribed) too
3. (proscribed) Emphasis for the following instrumental form [with instrumental]

References

• Tiit-Rein Viitso; Valts Ernštreits (2012–2013), “pa”, in Līvõkīel-ēstikīel-lețkīel sõnārōntõz [Livonian-Estonian-Latvian Dictionary]‎^[4] (in Estonian and Latvian), Tartu, Rīga: Tartu Ülikool, Latviešu valodas aģentūra

Louisiana Creole

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa/
• Rhymes: -a
• Homophone: Pa

Etymology 1

Inherited from French pas (“step, pace, footstep; not”). For semantic evolution from step to not, see etymology section at French pas.

Noun

pa

1. (a) step, (a) pace, (a) footstep
   • 1998, Albert Valdman, Thomas A. Klingler, Margaret M. Marshall, Kevin J. Rottet, Dictionary of Louisiana Creole, page 345:

     Li fe so premye pa yèr. [Li fé sô prémyé pa yèr.]

     He took his first step yesterday.

Adverb

pa

1. Most common adverb of negation in Louisiana Creole, typically translating into English as not, don't, doesn't, etc.

   Çé pa jist. ― It's not fair.

   To pa ka trouvé mô shyin? ― You can't find my dog?

   • 1998, Albert Valdman, Thomas A. Klingler, Margaret M. Marshall, Kevin J. Rottet, Dictionary of Louisiana Creole, page 345:

     Piti-ye astè-la kwa pa dan fifole-ye. [Piti-yé astè-la kwa pa dan fifolé-yé.]

     Children today don't believe in will-o'-the-wisps.

Derived terms

• (prevocalic) p'
• pa aryin (“nothing”)
• pa ditou (“not at all”)
• pa nil-plas (“nowhere”)
• pa pærsonn (“no one”)
• pa-d-kwa (“you're welcome”)

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Probably inherited from French "papa" or similar.”) Compare Louisiana Creole Pa (“Brer”).

Noun

pa

1. (a) father, (a) dad

   Synonyms: pær, pap, papa, papi, pè, pèr, popa

   • 1998, Albert Valdman, Thomas A. Klingler, Margaret M. Marshall, Kevin J. Rottet, Dictionary of Louisiana Creole, page 345:

     Mo pa sète en FARMER ^[sic]. [Mô pa sèté in farmer.]

     My father was a farmer.

Luba-Kasai

Verb

pa

1. to give

Macanese

Alternative forms

• pra

Etymology

From Portuguese para and pra. Compare Kabuverdianu and Papiamentu pa.

Preposition

pa

1. to

   Iou muto querê pa vôs ― I love you very much (literally, “I very much love to you”)

   metê limam pa tirâ amiz ― add lemon to remove the unpleasant flavour

2. for

   águ pa banhâ ― bathwater (literally, “water for bathing”)

   sô pa iou ― only for me

   passâ iou pa mentiroso ― to take me for a liar

3. towards, into

   dâ ung'a tricada pa águ ― to jump into the water

References

• https://www.macaneselibrary.org/pub/english/uipatua.htm

Mandarin

Romanization

pa

1. nonstandard spelling of pā
2. nonstandard spelling of pá
3. nonstandard spelling of pà

Usage notes

• Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.

Middle English

Noun

pa

1. alternative form of po

Mizo

Etymology 1

From Proto-Kuki-Chin *paa, from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *paʔ.

Noun

pa

1. father, stepfather
2. uncle

Derived terms

• nupa
• pasal

Etymology 2

From Proto-Kuki-Chin *paa, from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *pa (“male”).

Adjective

pa

1. male

Derived terms

• fapa
• lalpa

Further reading

• Lorrain, J. Herbert (1940), “pa”, in Dictionary of the Lushai language, Calcutta: Asiatic Society

Mokilese

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpa/

Verb

pa

1. to weave

Mono (California)

Etymology

From Proto-Numic *pa from Proto-Uto-Aztecan *pa.

Noun

pa

1. water

Muong

Muong cardinal numbers

<  2	3	4  >
Cardinal : pa

Etymology

From Proto-Vietic *paː; cognate with Vietnamese ba.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /paː¹/

Numeral

pa

1. three

Nguôn

Etymology

From Proto-Vietic *paː; cognate with Vietnamese ba.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /paː¹/

Numeral

pa

1. three

Occitan

Adverb

pa

1. not (indicates negation)

Old Prussian

Etymology

From the Proto-Indo-European root *upo- (“under, up”).

Preposition

pa

1. under

Adverb

pa

1. under

Old Tupi

Adverb

pa

1. Lamy spelling of pá

Palu'e

Etymology

From Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *əpat, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *əpat, from Proto-Austronesian *Səpat.

Numeral

pa

1. four

Papiamentu

Etymology

From Portuguese para and Spanish para and Kabuverdianu pa.

Preposition

pa

1. to
2. for
3. by

Paraguayan Guarani

Etymology

From opa (“end, totality, complete”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -a

Adjective

pa

1. (cardinal number) ten

Derived terms

• paha

References

• Canese, Natalia Krivoshein de; Alcaraz, Feliciano Acosta (2016), “pa”, in Ñe’ẽryru [Dictionary] (overall work in Spanish), Asunción: Instituto Superior de Lenguas, →ISBN, page 84, column 1

Polish

Etymology

Onomatopoeic.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpa/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: pa
• Homophone: pas

Interjection

pa

1. (familiar) bye

Derived terms

interjection

• pa pa

Further reading

• pa in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• pa in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Ponosakan

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Austronesian *pa (“still, yet, til now, first (before doing something else)”). Cognate with Tagalog pa (“yet”), Mongondow -pa (“still”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa/

Adverb

pa

1. still;

   Notiyuh pa siya. ― He's still sleeping.

2. more
3. yet (with a negative)
4. first

Further reading

• J. W. Lobel (December 2015), “Ponosakan: A Dying Language of Northeastern Sulawesi”, in Oceanic Linguistics, volume 54, number 2, University of Hawai'i Press, pages 396–435

Portuguese

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /pa/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /pɐ/

• Hyphenation: pa

Etymology 1

Syncopic form of para.

Preposition

pa

1. (colloquial) syncopic form of para

Etymology 2

Contraction of para +‎ a.

Contraction

pa

1. (colloquial) feminine singular of po; nonstandard form of pra

Further reading

• “pa”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from Hungarian pá.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [pa]
• Rhymes: -a

Interjection

pa

1. bye

   Synonym: la revedere

Sassarese

Preposition

pa

1. alternative spelling of pa'

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

Common South Slavic; compare Slovene pa, Bulgarian па (pa). See also pa-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa/

Conjunction

pa (Cyrillic spelling па)

1. (and) then

   Synonym: ȍndā

   prvo ću skočiti ja, pa ti ― I'll jump first, (and) then you

   učenje pa odmor pa zabava ― learning, then rest, then fun

2. (and) so, therefore

   Synonym: stȍgā

   Potrošio sam sav novac, pa sam se morao vratiti kući. ― I've spent all of my money, so I had to go back home.

3. (with da or màkar) even if, even though, although
4. (with ȉpāk) (and, but) yet, still

   bogat je, pa ipak usamljen ― he's rich, but still lonely

5. (with da + i) even if

Particle

pa (Cyrillic spelling па)

1. so, so what

   Pa? ― So what?

2. (for emphasis) well, so

   Pa dobro! ― All right, then!

   Pa što je s tobom? ― What's with you?

   Pa i ne baš ― Well, not exactly

   Pa što onda? ― So what?

3. (regional, for emphasis) even

   Pa i moja baba već zna da to nije istina! ― Even my grandma knows that that is not true!

Shona

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-páa.

Verb

-pá (infinitive kupá)

1. to give

Skou

Noun

pa

1. water

   Móenòeng pe tue e tue pa.

   There are crocodiles in the water.

References

• Donohue, Mark. Rópu we te máwo pílang te: Skou dictionary draft. s.l. 80pp. (2002).

Slavomolisano

Etymology

Inherited from Serbo-Croatian pa.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa/
• Rhymes: -a
• Hyphenation: pa

Particle

pa

1. well, so
   • 2010, Luigi Peca, La guerre à Acquaviva:

     Alora pa, ka biša gvera, ka pa je rivala kurta nasa ova gvera, mi, tuna žene aš ljuda, te ljuda veča… ka bihu veča zdrave – nò? mahu sa po hranit.

     Well then, during the war, when this war came close to us, we, all the women and men, the men (who were) more… who were healthier – you know? had to hide themselves.

References

• Breu, W., Mader Skender, M. B. & Piccoli, G. 2013. Oral texts in Molise Slavic (Italy): Acquaviva Collecroce. In Adamou, E., Breu, W., Drettas, G. & Scholze, L. (eds.). 2013. EuroSlav2010: Elektronische Datenbank bedrohter slavischer Varietäten in nichtslavophonen Ländern Europas – Base de données électronique de variétés slaves menacées dans des pays européens non slavophones. Konstanz: Universität / Paris: Lacito (Internet Publication).

Slovene

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa/

• Audio:

  (file)

Conjunction

pa

1. and

   Jaz pa ti. ― Me and you.

2. but

   Je dober, ne pa najbolši. ― He is good but not the best.

3. so

   Zaspal je, pa je zamudil šolo. ― He overslept, so he was late for school.

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpa/ [ˈpa]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: pa

Noun

pa m (plural pas)

1. (Latin America) clipping of papá: dad; pop; papa

Preposition

pa

1. alternative form of pa'

See also

• de pe a pa

References

• Among the places this form is used is southern Arizona, per Anita Calneh Post, Southern Arizona Spanish phonology (1934), page 36: "The commonest loss of intervocalic r in southern Arizona is in para, which is always pa ..."

Further reading

• “pa”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025

Sumerian

Romanization

pa

1. romanization of 𒉺 (pa)

Swahili

Pronunciation

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Etymology 1

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *-páa.

Verb

-pa (no plain infinitive)

1. to give to (someone)

   Nimewapa kitabu. ― I have given them a book.

   Nijawapa kitabu. ― I have not yet given them a book.

Conjugation

Conjugation of -pa (obligatory object concord)
Subjunctive -pe Negative -pi
Object concord
Indicative positive Singular Plural 1st person -nipa -tupa 2nd person -kupa -wapa/-kupeni/-wapeni 3rd person m-wa(I/II) -mpa -wapa other classes — Reflexive -jipa Subjunctive Singular Plural 1st person -nipe -tupe 2nd person -kupe -wape 3rd person m-wa(I/II) -mpe -wape other classes — Reflexive -jipe Indicative negative Singular Plural 1st person -nipi -tupi 2nd person -kupi -wapi 3rd person m-wa(I/II) -mpi -wapi other classes — Reflexive -jipi
Relative forms general positive (positive subject concord + object concord + -pa- + relative marker) Singular Plural m-wa(I/II) -paye -pao m-mi(III/IV) -pao -payo ji-ma(V/VI) -palo -payo ki-vi(VII/VIII) -pacho -pavyo n(IX/X) -payo -pazo u(XI) -pao see n(X) or ma(VI) class ku(XV/XVII) -pako pa(XVI) -papo mu(XVIII) -pamo
Some forms not commonly seen in modern Standard Swahili are absent from the table. See Appendix:Swahili verbs for more information.

Derived terms

• Verbal derivations:
  • Applicative: -pea
  • Passive: -pewa
  • Reciprocal: -peana

• Nominal derivations:
  • kipaji (“donation, gift”)
  • mpaji (“giver”)
  • upaji (“offering, giving”)

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Particle

pa

1. pa class_(XVI) inflected form of -a

Tagalog

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /pa/ [pɐ]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: pa

Etymology 1

Inherited from Proto-Austronesian *pa (“still, yet, til now, first (before doing something else)”). Cognate with Cebuano pa (“id”), Malagasy fa (“for, but, therefore, because, that”).

Adverb

pa (Baybayin spelling ᜉ)

1. yet

   Hindi pa niya binuhay ang sinaing.

   He hasn't turned the rice cooker on yet.

2. still; eventually; in the future

   Buhay pa ang bintilador; bakit hindi mo 'to pinatay?

   The fan is still on; why didn't you turn it off?

3. in addition, too
4. in the past
5. even

Alternative forms

• p — text messaging

Derived terms

• pa naman
• pa rin

See also

• pa-

Etymology 2

Influenced by Baybayin character ᜉ (pa).

Noun

pa (Baybayin spelling ᜉ)

1. the name of the Latin script letter P/p, in the Abakada alphabet

   Synonyms: (in the Filipino alphabet) pi, (in the Abecedario) pe

See also

• papa

Etymology 3

clipping of papa.

Noun

pa (Baybayin spelling ᜉ) (informal, familiar, childish)

1. term of address for one's father: dad

   Synonyms: tay, itay, papa, ama, tatay, tatang

   Coordinate term: ma

Further reading

• “pa”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, 2018

Anagrams

• AP

Tho

Tho cardinal numbers

<  2	3	4  >
Cardinal : pa

Etymology

From Proto-Vietic *paː; cognate with Vietnamese ba, Muong pa.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /paː¹/

Numeral

pa

1. three

Tshobdun

Etymology

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *pʷak.

Noun

pa

1. pig

Further reading

• Jackson T. S. Sun, Typology of Generic-Person Making in Tshobdun Rgyalrong (2014)

Unami

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Algonquian *pye·wa anim (“to be coming”).

Verb

pa (VAI (animate-subject intransitive), inanimate equivalent pèyu)

1. to come; to be coming

Conjugation

present indicative conjugation of pa

pa
1st person singular	mpa
2nd person singular	kpa
3rd person singular	pè
1st person plural inclusive	mpahëna
1st person plural exclusive	kpahëna
2nd person plural	kpahëmo
3rd person plural	peyòk
indefinite subject	[Term?]
obviative	pèlu

present independent negative conjugation of pa

pa
1st person singular	mpai
2nd person singular	kpai
3rd person singular	pèi
1st person plural inclusive	mpahùmëna
1st person plural exclusive	këpahùmëna
2nd person plural	këpahùmo
3rd person plural	peíòk
indefinite subject	pawën
obviative	pèlii

Plain conjunct conjugation of pa

pa
1st person singular	paan/paa
2nd person singular	paàn
3rd person singular	pat
1st person plural inclusive	paànkw
1st person plural exclusive	paènk
2nd person plural	paèkw
3rd person plural	pahtit
indefinite subject	pank
obviative	palit

present subjunctive conjugation of pa

pa
1st person singular	paane
2nd person singular	paàne
3rd person singular	pate
1st person plural inclusive	paànkwe
1st person plural exclusive	paènke
2nd person plural	paèkwe
3rd person plural	pahtite
indefinite subject	panke
obviative	palite

subordinative conjugation of pa

pa
1st person singular	mpan
2nd person singular	kpan
3rd person singular	pòn
1st person plural inclusive	mpanèn
1st person plural exclusive	kpanèn
2nd person plural	kpaneyo
3rd person plural	pòneyo
indefinite subject	pan
obviative	pòlin

References

• Rementer, Jim with Pearson, Bruce L. (2005), “pè”, in Grant Leneaux, Raymond Whritenour, editors, The Lenape Talking Dictionary, The Lenape Language Preservation Project

Walloon

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa/

Noun

pa m (plural pas)

1. father

Coordinate terms

• (gender): mame

Welsh

Alternative forms

• py

Etymology

From Proto-Celtic *kʷid, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷid (compare *kʷís); compare Latin quid, Old Irish cid, Modern Irish cad, Cornish py, pe.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /paː/
• Rhymes: -aː

Pronoun

pa

1. (interrogative, archaic) what

Determiner

pa

1. which

   Synonym: pwy

Derived terms

• pa beth
• pa bryd
• pa fath o
• pa mor
• pa mor bynnag
• pa un, p'un

Usage notes

• The usage of pa as an interrogative has been rendered obsolete by the modern word beth, which derives from the phrase pa beth (literally “what thing”).
• pa as a determiner tends to be replaced by pwy in Southern Welsh.

West Makian

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa/

Verb

pa

1. (transitive, with ta-) to request, ask for

   tapa ampong te ni ― I ask you for forgiveness

Conjugation

Conjugation of pa (action verb)

		singular	plural
			inclusive	exclusive
1st person		tapa	mapa	apa
2nd person		napa	fapa
3rd person	inanimate	ipa	dapa
	animate
imperative		napa, pa	fapa, pa

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa(ː)/

Noun

pa

1. alternative form of papa (“female”)

References

• Clemens Voorhoeve (1982), The Makian languages and their neighbours‎^[5], Pacific linguistics
• James Collins (1982), Further Notes Towards a West Makian Vocabulary‎^[6], Pacific linguistics

Wutunhua

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [pʰɑ]

Noun

pa

1. friend

References

• Erika Sandman (2016), A Grammar of Wutun‎^[7], University of Helsinki (PhD), →ISBN

Yola

Pronunciation

• /pa/

Preposition

pa

1. apheretic form of apaa
   • 1867, GLOSSARY OF THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, page 60:

     Pa ooree; Pa cawl.

     Upon each other; Upon the horse.

   • 1867, GLOSSARY OF THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, page 69:

     Pa sthit.

     Upon the filly.

   • 1867, GLOSSARY OF THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, page 78:

     A wuf is pa varreen.

     The gad is on the headland.

References

• Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828), William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, published 1867, page 60

Yoruba

Etymology 1

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *kpa, possibly a Doublet of kú

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k͡pā/

Verb

pa

1. (transitive) to kill

   Ẹ fẹ́ pa mí ni!?

   You want to kill me!?

   1. (transitive) to murder

      Ó pa ìyàwó ẹ̀.

      He murdered his wife.

   2. (transitive) to execute
   3. (transitive) to switch off, to turn off

      Má gbàgbé láti máa pa tẹlifíṣọ̀n.

      Don't forget to turn off the television.

   4. (transitive) to extinguish

      A dúpẹ́ pé wọ́n pa iná kó tó jó odindi ilé tán pátá.

      Thankfully the fire was extinguished before it burnt the whole house down.

   5. (transitive) to stop, to terminate

      Wọ́n pa ìlù.

      They stopped the drumming.

2. (transitive) to pain, to kill

   Yéè! Ẹsẹ̀ yìí fẹ́ pa mí o!

   Ouch! My feet are killing me!

   1. (transitive) to disturb

      Ebi ń pa mí.

      Hunger is disturbing me.

      (I am hungry)

   2. (transitive) to intoxicate

      Ọtí ń pa wọ́n.

      Alchohol is intoxicating them.

      (They are drunk)

3. (transitive) to open, to smash open, to thresh

   Ẹ bá mi pa obì yìí.

   Help me open this kola nut.

   Ó pa ọkà.

   He threshed the corn.

4. (transitive) to hatch

   Adìyẹ mi ti pa ọmọ

   My hen's hatched chicks

Derived terms

• bọ́ pa (“to fatten in order to slaughter”)
• fara pa (“to injure the body”)
• gún pa (“to stab”)
• lù pa (“to strike dead”)
• pakà (“to thresh maize”)
• pamọ (“to hatch chicks”)
• paná (“to extinguish a fire”)
• pẹja (“to fish”)
• pààyàn (“to kill people”)

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k͡pā/

Verb

pa

1. (transitive) to tell, to convey

   Irọ́ l'o ń pa o! ― You're telling a lie!

Derived terms

• pariwo (“to make noise”)
• parọ́ (“to tell a lie”)
• pidán (“to practice magic”)
• pọfọ̀ (“to recite an incantation”)
• pàlọ́ (“to tell a riddle, to tell a folk story”)
• pàrokò (“to convey an aroko”)
• pàrọwà (“to entreat”)
• pàṣẹ (“to command”)
• pète (“to scheme”)
• pìtàn (“to tell a story, to narrate history”)
• pògèdè (“to recite an incantation”)
• pòṣé (“to kiss teeth”)
• pòwe (“to tell a proverb”)

Etymology 3

Compare with Igbo kpa

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k͡pā/

Verb

pa

1. (transitive) to rub

   Mo máa ń fi òrí pa ọwọ́ mi ― I use shea butter to moisturize my hands

2. (transitive) to scorch, to drench, to beat usually in relation to weather

   Òjò ń pa mí. ― Rain is drenching me.

   Òjò ń pa òrùlé. ― The rain is beating the roof.

   Oòrùn ń pa mí. ― The sun is beating me.

Etymology 4

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k͡pā/

Verb

pa

1. to gain, to make
   1. to earn (money)

      Wọn kì í pa owó látinú iṣẹ́ yìí. ― They don't make money from doing such work.

      Ọbẹ̀ tó dùn, owó ló pa á ― A delicious stew; money is what earnt it

• pagbo (“to gather”)
• pawó (“to make money”)
• pàdánù (“to lose”)
• pàgọ́ (“to set camp”)
• pòfo (“to fail”)

Etymology 5

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k͡pā/

Verb

pa

1. to be in a state, defined by a following adverb

   Òkun pa rọ́rọ́. ― The sea is calm.

Derived terms

• pa rọ́rọ́ (“to be tranquil”)
• pirọrọ (“to be calm, to be in a false sleep”)

Etymology 6

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k͡pā/

Verb

pa

1. to be tight

   Mo dè é pa ― I screwed it tight

Derived terms

• dè pa (“to screw tight”)
• dé pa (“to cover tightly”)
• dì pa (“to tie”)
• fún pa (“to pull tight”)
• kàn pa (“to hammer tight”)
• lọ́ pa (“to twist”)
• so pa (“to tie”)
• tì pa (“to shut tight, to lock”)
• wé pa (“to fold tight”)
• yí pa (“to turn, to twist”)

Etymology 7

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k͡pá/

Verb

pá

1. to be bald

   Ó pá lórí. ― He's bald on the head.

   (He is bald)

Derived terms

• apárí (“bald person”)
• párí (“to be bald”)

Zazaki

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *pṓds (“foot”), cognates include Sanskrit पद् (pád), Latin pes (French pied), German Fuß, English foot.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɔː/

Noun

pa

1. (anatomy) leg, foot

Zou

Etymology 1

From Proto-Kuki-Chin *paa, from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *pa. Cognates include Chinese 爸 (bà) and Tibetan པ་ཕ (pa pha).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa˧˥/

Noun

pá

1. father
2. grandfather

Etymology 2

Perhaps related to Etymology 1.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa˧/

Noun

pa

1. cousin

References

• Chungkham Yashawanta Singh; Lukram Himmat (2013), A Descriptive Grammar of Zou, Canchipur: Manipur University, page 60