A happy mother and father standing together, smiling and holding hands.

papás

pa-PASS

nounmA1

parents?referring to a mother and father together

Also:dads?plural of father

📝 In Action

Mis papás viven en Madrid.

My parents live in Madrid.

¿A qué hora llegan tus papás?

What time are your parents arriving?

Hoy es la reunión para los papás del colegio.

Today is the meeting for the school's dads.

Word Connections

Synonyms

padres (parents (more formal))

Antonyms

hijos (children)

Common Collocations

mis papás – my parents
ser papás – to be parents / to have children

💡 Grammar Points

The 'Masculine' Default

In Spanish, if you have a group of people with at least one male, the whole group uses the masculine ending. That's why 'papás' (masculine) means both 'dads' and a mix of 'mom and dad'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Missing the Accent

Mistake: "Mis papas son simpáticos."

Correction: Mis papás son simpáticos.

⭐ Usage Tips

Casual vs. Formal

Use 'papás' when talking to friends or family. Use 'padres' for official documents, school forms, or formal situations.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: papás

Question 1 of 1

What is the main difference between 'papas' and 'papás'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

papá(dad) - noun

papi(daddy) - noun

padre(father) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'papás' only refer to two men?

Not necessarily. While it can mean two dads, it is most commonly used as the general word for 'parents' (a mom and a dad).

Can I use 'papás' in a business email?

It is better to use 'padres' in formal or business contexts, as 'papás' is quite informal and affectionate.