Abba

¹ American  

[ab-uh] / ˈæb ə /

Or abba

noun

1. a title of reverence for bishops and patriarchs in the Coptic, Ethiopian Christian, and Syriac churches.

2. New Testament. an Aramaic word for father, used by Jesus and Paul to address God in a relation of personal intimacy.

---

Abba ² American  

[ah-bah] / ˈɑ bɑ /

noun

1. a female day name for Thursday. day name

---

Abba ¹ British  

/ ˈæbə /

noun

1. New Testament father (used of God)

2. a title given to bishops and patriarchs in the Syrian, Coptic, and Ethiopian Churches

---

Abba ² British  

/ ˈæbə /

noun

1. Swedish pop group (1972–82): comprised Benny Andersson (born 1946), Agnetha Faltskog (born 1950), Anni-Frid Lyngstad (born 1945), and Bjorn Ulvaeus (born 1945); numerous hit singles included "Waterloo" (1974), "Dancing Queen" (1977), and "The Winner Takes It All" (1980)

---

Etymology

Origin of Abba

From the Aramaic word abbā “father”

Example Sentences

Australia has been obsessed with Eurovision since Abba won in 1974.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

Eurovision, the globally followed song contest that launched music careers of artists such as Celine Dion and Abba, will host its 70th annual competition in May in Vienna.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

The competition has supercharged the careers of some of the world's most famous acts, such as Swedish pop group Abba and Canadian singer Celine Dion, who represented Switzerland in 1988.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Natalie says the dance has changed significantly in the past 20 years and no longer fits into "a niche box", with routines to everything from Metallica to Abba and Ed Sheeran.

From BBC • Sep. 12, 2025

When we arrived at Abba every Christmas, Papa would stop by Grandfather’s house at our ikwu nne, Mother’s maiden home, before we even drove to our own compound.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• administrator
• cleric
• director
• patriarch
• pontiff
• pope
• prelate
• priest