Father’s Day is approaching quickly, and it’s that time when we start to think about what our fathers mean to us; everything they have done in the past, and all they do now. Every year we celebrate the role of fathers, but have you noticed just how many words there are for “father” in the English language? And, for that matter, how the names we use change from situation to situation?
How do you address your dad?
When talking to our fathers we can use a whole range of interesting abbreviations for the word father. Dad, daddy, pops, pop, papa, pa, da etc, it all really depends on which are most used in certain families, and there is, no doubt, a whole host of private and unique ones which stem from family in-jokes.
Evolution of names
What we call our fathers often changes as we move through life; we are more likely to use daddy or baba as children, but abandon these more childish terms as we move into our teenage years only to return to using these more affectionate terms in adulthood once more. Sons and daughters also differ in their terms of endearment. There is a case to be made for the fact that daughters use a variety of different terms whereas sons are more likely to use affectionate terms which denote status when talking to their father: words like “chief”, “boss” and even “gov” are pretty common.
Why Pa, Daddy and Papa?
Many linguists believe that the words we use for our parents come from the sounds we are most readily able to pronounce as young children. Hence things like mama, dada, daddy, etc are common diminutive terms for father and mother. There are some terms, however, which tend to be used only when speaking to our dads. Pop and pops are such terms.
Pops and pop
Originating in the 1830’s, pop and pops have a more grown up feel than, say, daddy, but still shows a degree of affection and intimacy. No matter what we call our father, however, it is most likely that we have inherited our own terms through our families; we’re likely to call our parents what they called their parents.
So what do you call your dad? Do you call him something different when you are with your siblings then when you are in public? Either way, be sure to celebrate your father in all his glory this father’s day, and make sure he knows how much you love him.
