papa
“papa” means “potato” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
potato
Also: mashed food
📝 In Action
¿Quieres papas fritas con tu hamburguesa?
A1Do you want french fries (fried potatoes) with your hamburger?
La papa andina es muy nutritiva.
B1The Andean potato is very nutritious.
Pope
Also: Pontiff
📝 In Action
El papa dio un discurso en la plaza principal.
B1The Pope gave a speech in the main square.
Esperamos la visita del papa en octubre.
B2We await the Pope's visit in October.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: papa
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly refers to the vegetable?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
This single word contains two entirely separate histories! 1) The meaning 'Pope' comes from the Latin word 'papa', meaning 'father' or 'bishop,' a term of endearment and respect. 2) The meaning 'potato' is believed to come from the indigenous Quechua word 'papa' in the Andes mountains, where the plant originated.
First recorded: Both meanings appeared in Spanish texts by the 16th century, though their usage patterns evolved over time.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
If I want to say 'Dad' or 'Father', should I use 'papa'?
No, if you want to say 'Dad' or 'Father' informally, the correct Spanish word is 'papá', which has an accent mark on the last 'a' and is pronounced differently (/pa-PÁ/).
Why is this word 'papa' so different from 'patata'?
They are synonyms (they mean the same vegetable) but are regional. 'Papa' is the original indigenous word adopted in Latin America, while 'patata' is a Spanish-developed word often preferred in Spain, believed to be a mix of 'papa' and 'batata' (sweet potato).