pa

¹ American  

[pah, paw] / pɑ, pɔ /

noun

Informal.

1. father.

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Pa ² American  

abbreviation

Physics.

1. pascal; pascals.

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Pa ³ American  

Symbol, Chemistry.

1. protactinium.

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PA ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. Palestinian Authority.

2. Parents' Association.

3. paying agent.

4. Pennsylvania (approved especially for use with zip code).

5. physician's assistant.

6. press agent.

7. public-address system.

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Pa. ⁵ American  

abbreviation

1. Pennsylvania.

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p.a. ⁶ American  

abbreviation

1. participial adjective.

2. per annum.

3. press agent.

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P.A. ⁷ American  

abbreviation

1. Parents' Association.

2. Insurance. particular average.

3. passenger agent.

4. post adjutant.

5. power of attorney.

6. press agent.

7. public-address system.

8. publicity agent.

9. purchasing agent.

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PA ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. Pennsylvania

2. personal appearance

3. personal assistant

4. military Post Adjutant

5. power of attorney

6. press agent

7. Press Association

8. banking private account

9. public-address system

10. publicity agent

11. Publishers Association

12. purchasing agent

13. insurance particular average

14. (in New Zealand) probationary assistant

15. Panama (international car registration)

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pa ² British  

/ pɑː /

noun

1. a Māori village or settlement

2. history a Māori defensive position and settlement on a hilltop

3. to abandon city life in favour of rural life

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Pa ³ British  

symbol

1. protactinium

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symbol

1. pascal

Pa. ⁴ British  

abbreviation

1. Pennsylvania

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pa ⁵ British  

/ pɑː /

noun

1. an informal word for father

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pa ⁶ British  

abbreviation

1. Panama

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p.a. ⁷ British  

abbreviation

1. per annum

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Etymology

Origin of pa

Short for papa

Example Sentences

He also picked up best reggaetón performance for Voy a llevarte pa PR, and best urban music album for Debí Tirar Más Fotos.

From BBC • Nov. 14, 2025

“Anpil men, chay pa lou! Many hands lighten the load.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 13, 2023

Do you and your pa bond best over a meal or a pint?

From Seattle Times • Jun. 15, 2023

“Trumpets,” Zárate instructed three students in the back, “make the introduction sound majestic — pa ra ra ra ra — like a king is coming!”

From New York Times • Nov. 3, 2022

Once the blacksmith was finished with Syl’s ma and pa, they was quite the sight.

From "The Journey of Little Charlie" by Christopher Paul Curtis

Related Words

• ancestor
• dad
• parent
• predecessor