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

“Tienen ganas pa trabajar — they really want to work!”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2025

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

From Seattle Times • Jun. 15, 2023

The goi pa, a vibrant fish salad, is shimmering and opulent, scented with many kinds of mint, the meaty pieces almost invisible among a generous mass of makrut lime leaves and red onion.

From New York Times • Mar. 8, 2022

Cleveland disputed some of the details of the story, and his supporters countered jeers of "Ma, ma, where's my pa?" with chants of "Gone to the White House, ha ha ha."

From Salon • Nov. 20, 2020

They knew I meant my ma and pa and brother.

From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate

Related Words

• ancestor
• dad
• parent
• predecessor