In 1910, father’s day was first celebrated to recognize the role of the father and to complement the mother’s role. Then father’s day became the permanent national holiday in the United States in 1972. For a few years, father’s day has been celebrated worldwide where the children will be spending time with their fathers and give gifts or greeting cards.
Everyone is aware of the mother’s role and love, but at some stage, we forget that fathers are the ones who teach us how to drive a car or how to sneak a dessert even though we didn’t finish our dinner.
But in this article, we are not going to see the father’s responsibilities, rather we are going to see the endearing ways to say father around the world.
How do say father in different languages?
- Vietnam
In Northern Vietnam, they call Bo, Ba, Cha, Thay, and Cau, in Central Vietnam it is Ba, and in Southern Vietnam, it is Ba and Tia. Fathers are considered top in the Vietnamese family hierarchy and children usually use the term Thay or Cau to call them with the utmost respect.
But in recent time, Bo and Ba are the two most common words which are used everywhere as it is friendly and also respectful. The people of Vietnam started to celebrate father’s day only in the early 2010s and it will be celebrated on the third Sunday of June.
- Japan
In Japan, they use the word called “Oto-San” as it is a polite and formal way to call father. If you want to refer to someone as a father then you can use the word called “Oyaji” but this is considered an informal way to call their fathers. They celebrate father’s day on the third Sunday of June.
- China
The Chinese people call father “Fuquin” or “Ya-Cha” which is the most respectful way of calling father. In Mainland China, father’s day was celebrated on August 8 in order to respect the father who died during World War Ⅱ. But it is not celebrated as a national holiday, as a minority of people only celebrates father’s day.
- Korean
In Korea, they call fathers Appa, Aboji, and Abeoji but they don’t celebrate father’s day and mother’s day separately. Instead, they will celebrate the parent’s day.
- Philippines
The fathers in the Philippines are called “haligi ng tahanan” and the meaning is they are considered the pillar of the home. They believe that fathers are the ones who provide strength and support to the family. Also, they are called as Itay, Tay, Tatay, Pa, Papa, Pops, Daddy, Dad, and Dadi.
- Thai
Thai people call their father as Phx, Bida, Pa, and Khun Phx. Father’s day is celebrated in the month of December in Thailand to celebrate the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. In the past times, the people of Thailand used to give canna flowers to their father or grandfather. But nowadays, people don’t practice father’s day anymore.
- Indonesia
The fathers in Indonesia are called Bapa, Ayah, Pak, and Papa. In Indonesia, father’s day was first celebrated in 2006 and to make this event more special a group of people gathered in the Solo City Hall to celebrate the occasion. Even today, father’s day is celebrated in November, but only a smaller group of people get involved.
- India
Now all the cities of India will celebrate father’s day but big cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kanpur, and other westernized cities. The people of India address their fathers by different names such as papa, pita, appa, acchan, and many more names.
- Italy
In most cases, the people of Italy called their fathers padre which is the most affectionate way of calling your father. But in some regions like Tuscany, they use the word for fathers like Papa, pa, and Babbo.
- U.S./ Canada
In America, father’s day was celebrated by Sonora Smart Dodd from Spokane, who wanted to honor her father who died as an American civil war veteran. American children use the word call Daddy, Dad, or Papa but in most cases, they used to call their father as a dad. If they wanted to respect other fathers then they will be used to address them as Sir.
- Singapore
In Singapore, they use to address their father as appa, papa, pa, daddy, and bapa. Also, they will celebrate father’s day by having a satisfying meal at the local hawker center, any restaurant, or hotel.
- France/ Belgium
The most commonly used words to call father in France are pere, pretre, and papa. But in recent times, they are mostly using the word Papa. While celebrating father’s day, the children will greet their father and also give a small token of appreciation like a handkerchief or a tie.
- Taiwan
In Taiwan, most children will call their dad baba and if it needs to be more causal then they will use the word ba. Father’s day is not considered the national day in Taiwan but still, they will celebrate it in the month of August.
- Australia
The Australian parents used to teach their children to call their father daddy or dad. But in most cases, they will refer to their father as pa. They will celebrate father’s day on the first Sunday of September.
- Spain
Most people think that the standard word to address father in Spain is papa, but there are other terms also. Depending on the country in Spain, the terms used to refer to father will change both formal and informal. They use the terms such as padre, jefe, tata, pa, apa, papaito, and papi.
They celebrate father’s day on the feast day of St. Joseph and take their father to the restaurant by expressing their gratitude and affection.
- Russia
Nana is the most suitable way to call your father and it will be both formal and informal. The word carries from neutral to affectionate, and they celebrate father’s day on “Defender of Fatherland day” to honor the Russian armed forces.
- Germany
German people call their father as vati, papa, or papi and the father’s day and men’s day will be celebrated on the same day in Germany.
