baba

== English == === Etymology === As one of the first utterances many babies are able to say, baba (like mama, papa, and dada) has come to be used in many languages as a term for various family members: father: Albanian, Arabic, Western Armenian, Chinese, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Greek, Marathi, Mingrelian, Nepali, Persian, Swahili, Turkish, Yoruba, Shona, Zulu grandmother: many Slavic languages (such as Bulgarian, Russian, Czech and Polish; a doublet of bubbe), Romanian, Yiddish, Japanese grandfather: Azerbaijani, Zulu (father, grandfather) baby: Afrikaans, Sinhala, Hungarian These terms often continue to be used by English speakers whose families came from one of these cultures. In some cases, they may become more widely used in localities that have been heavily influenced by an immigrant community. Some senses were extensions of one of these family terms in the original languages ("old woman" from "grandmother", "holy man" from "father"). The "cake" sense comes through French, from Polish baba (“old woman”). The Middle Eastern word baba (as in Ali Baba) is rather a term of endearment, and is ultimately derived from Persian بابا (bābā, “father”) (from Old Persian pāpa; as opposed to the Arabic words أَبُو (ʔabū) and أَب (ʔab); see also Papak), and is linguistically related to the common European word papa and the word pope, having the same Indo-European origin. The Chinese word "baba", meaning father, comes from 爸爸. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): (variously) /ˈbɑːbɑː/, /ˈbɑːbə/, /ˈbæbə/ Rhymes: -ɑːbɑː, -ɑːbə, -æbə === Noun === baba (countable and uncountable, plural babas) (countable and uncountable) A kind of sponge cake soaked in rum-flavoured syrup. (countable, especially among people of East European ancestry) A grandmother. 2001, Brattleboro Remembers, edited by the Brattleboro [Vermont] Historical Society, Arcadia Publishing I walked first for my grandmother, and my mother was sorry she had missed my first steps. My Baba was so proud, my mother later told me. (countable) An old woman, especially a traditional old woman from an eastern European culture. (countable, especially among people of Indian or Chinese ancestry) A father. 1998, Mulan (movie) "The greatest gift and honor is having you for a daughter. I've missed you so." "I've missed you too, baba." 2002, Bend It Like Beckham (movie) Okay. Okay. Fine, baba. Let's just do it before something else goes wrong. 2003, House of Sand and Fog (movie) "Do not be disrespectful, son. Look at me." "Baba, were you a Savaki?" (countable, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism) A holy man, a spiritual leader. (countable, British India) A baby, child. (countable) In baby talk, often used for a variety of words beginning with b, such as bottle or blanket. 2004, House (TV, episode 1.14) Oh, it's storytime! Let me get my baba. ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== Further reading ==== baba on Wikipedia.Wikipedia === Anagrams === ABBA, AABB, Abba, abba == Afrikaans == === Pronunciation === === Noun === baba (plural babas) baby ==== Related terms ==== babetjie === Verb === baba (present baba, present participle babaende, past participle gebaba) to treat with gentle care, to coddle == Albanian == === Etymology 1 === From Ottoman Turkish بابا (baba), whence Turkish baba. ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /baˈba/ ==== Noun ==== babá m (plural baballárë, definite babái) dad, father Synonyms: bábë, átë ===== Declension ===== ===== Derived terms ===== Baba Dimri === Etymology 2 === See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form. ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /ˈbaba/ ==== Noun ==== bába inflection of bábë: definite nominative singular indefinite nominative/accusative plural == Atong (India) == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /baba/ === Noun === baba (Bengali script বাবা) father paternal uncle son ==== Synonyms ==== (father): awa wa• === References === van Breugel, Seino. 2015. Atong-English dictionary, second edition. Available online: https://www.academia.edu/487044/Atong_English_Dictionary. == Azerbaijani == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): [bɑˈbɑ] Hyphenation: ba‧ba === Noun === baba (definite accusative babanı, plural babalar) grandfather Coordinate term: nənə term of address for old men ==== Declension ==== === References === Orucov, Əliheydər, editor (2006), “baba”, in Azərbaycan dilinin izahlı lüğəti [Explanatory Dictionary of the Azerbaijani Language]‎[3] (in Azerbaijani), 2nd edition, volume 1, Baku: Şərq-Qərb, page 193 == Basque == === Etymology === From Proto-Basque, ultimately from Latin faba. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /baba/ [ba.β̞a] Rhymes: -aba, -a Hyphenation: ba‧ba === Noun === baba inan broad bean bean, green bean Synonym: babarrun blister ==== Declension ==== ==== Derived terms ==== === Further reading === “baba”, in Euskaltzaindiaren Hiztegia [Dictionary of the Basque Academy] (in Basque), Euskaltzaindia [Royal Academy of the Basque Language] “baba”, in Orotariko Euskal Hiztegia [General Basque Dictionary], Euskaltzaindia, 1987–2005 == Betawi == === Alternative forms === babè (Urban Jakarta) ba, bè (shortened form) === Etymology === Borrowed from Hokkien 爸爸 (pa-pa), perhaps reinforced by the form aba. Sense 2 might be a semantic loan from Arabic بَابَا (bābā). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /baba/ Rhymes: -a Hyphenation: ba‧ba === Noun === baba father Synonyms: abah, abi, ayah, bapa' (Roman Catholicism, rare) pope Synonym: paus == Cebuano == === Etymology 1 === Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *baqbaq. First attested in Antonio Pigafetta's Relazione del primo viaggio intorno al mondo—detailing the first circumnavigation of the world between 1519 and 1522. ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /ˈbaʔba/ [ˈbaʔ.bɐ] Rhymes: -aʔ Hyphenation: ba‧ba ==== Noun ==== bâbâ (Badlit spelling ᜊᜊ) (anatomy) mouth mouth of a river outlet; aperture; orifice talk; empty boasting, promises or claims ==== Verb ==== bâbâ (Badlit spelling ᜊᜊ) to hit, be hit or injured in the mouth ===== Derived terms ===== === Etymology 2 === Compare abaga. ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /baˈba/ [bɐˈba] Rhymes: -a Hyphenation: ba‧ba ==== Verb ==== babá (Badlit spelling ᜊᜊ) to piggyback; to carry someone on the back ===== Quotations ===== For quotations using this term, see Citations:baba. == Central Bikol == === Etymology 1 === Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *babaq, from Proto-Austronesian *babaq. ==== Pronunciation 1 ==== Hyphenation: ba‧ba IPA(key): /baˈbaʔ/ [baˈbaʔ] ==== Adjective ==== babâ (Basahan spelling ᜊᜊ) downstairs Antonym: taas ==== Noun ==== babâ (Basahan spelling ᜊᜊ) shortness, lowness (based on height) Antonym: langkaw (dialectal) bottom; below Antonym: babaw descent Synonym: palos disembarkment Synonym: lusad act of going downstairs Synonym: hilig decrease; lowering of quantity or measurement Synonym: ina ===== Derived terms ===== ==== Pronunciation 2 ==== Hyphenation: ba‧ba IPA(key): /ˈbabaʔ/ [ˈba.baʔ] ==== Noun ==== babà (Basahan spelling ᜊᜊ) (anatomy) chin Synonym: kuko === Etymology 2 === From padaba (“loved one, term of endearment”). ==== Pronunciation ==== Hyphenation: ba‧ba IPA(key): /ˈbabaʔ/ [ˈba.baʔ] ==== Noun ==== babà (Basahan spelling ᜊᜊ) (Tabaco–Legazpi–Sorsogon, slang) loved one == Crimean Tatar == === Etymology === (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.) === Pronunciation === Hyphenation: ba‧ba === Noun === baba father dad ==== Declension ==== ==== Derived terms ==== === References === “baba”, in Luğatçıq (in Russian) == Czech == === Alternative forms === bába === Etymology === Inherited from Proto-Slavic *baba. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): [ˈbaba] Rhymes: -aba === Noun === baba f crone, hag coward, milksop Synonym: zbabělec (informal) girl, chick ==== Declension ==== ==== Related terms ==== === Further reading === “baba”, in Kartotéka Novočeského lexikálního archivu (in Czech) “baba”, in Akademický slovník současné češtiny, 2012–2026, slovnikcestiny.cz “baba”, in Internetová jazyková příručka (in Czech), 2008–2026 == Dagbani == === Etymology === Unknown. === Noun === baba (plural babanima) Title of the second chief butcher === Noun === baba plural of babli (a featherless fowl) === Noun === baba Father == Ewe == === Noun === baba termite, white ant === References === Fiagã, Kwasi (1976), Grammaire eʋe: Eʋegbe ŋutinunya‎[4] (in French), Lomé: Institut national de la recherche scientifique, page 101 == Fanagalo == === Etymology === From Zulu ubaba, from Proto-Bantu *bààbá. === Noun === baba father == Finnish == === Etymology === From Polish baba, probably via French. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbɑbɑ/, [ˈbɑ̝bɑ̝] Rhymes: -ɑbɑ Syllabification(key): ba‧ba Hyphenation(key): ba‧ba === Noun === baba baba, babka (type of cake) ==== Declension ==== === Further reading === “baba”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎[5] (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 2 July 2023 == French == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ba.ba/ === Etymology 1 === Borrowed from Polish baba, introduced in France in the eighteenth century at the court of Stanisław Leszczyński, king of Poland, duke of Lorraine and father-in-law of Louis XV. ==== Noun ==== baba m (plural babas) baba (type of cake) baba au rhum ― rum baba === Etymology 2 === Onomatopoeic. ==== Adjective ==== baba (plural babas) (colloquial) flabbergasted === Further reading === “baba”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012 == Galician == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbaba/ [ˈba.β̞ɐ] Rhymes: -aba Hyphenation: ba‧ba === Etymology 1 === Attested since the 18th century. From the hypothesized Vulgar Latin *baba, ultimately imitative of children speech on the pattern of the repeated syllable ba. ==== Noun ==== baba f (plural babas) drool Synonym: baballa slime (mucus-like substance which exudes from the bodies of certain animals) Synonyms: baballa, limo ===== Derived terms ===== ==== References ==== Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “baba”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “baba”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “baba”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN === Etymology 2 === ==== Verb ==== baba inflection of babar: third-person singular present indicative second-person singular imperative == Garo == === Etymology === Likely from Bengali বাবা (baba). === Noun === baba father ==== Synonyms ==== paa pagipa apa == German == === Etymology 1 === A link of the term with the English bye-bye is possible but not certain. ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /baˈbaː/, (Austria) [b̥aˈb̥aː] Rhymes: -aː ==== Interjection ==== baba (informal, Austria) bye-bye, see you, so long ===== Usage notes ===== Especially in East Austria, baba is the most commonly used informal term for saying "goodbye". ==== Further reading ==== “baba” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache “baba (Abschiedsgruß)” in Duden online === Etymology 2 === From Turkish baba. ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /ˈbaba/ ==== Adjective ==== baba (indeclinable, predicative only) (slang) boss, rad, fly Synonyms: Bombe, geisteskrank == Ghomara == === Etymology === Inherited from Proto-Berber, from Proto-Afroasiatic *ʔab-. === Pronunciation === (Iɛraben) IPA(key): [bɛβɛ] === Noun === baba m (usually uncountable) (my) father Synonym: lwalid ==== See also ==== === References === Mourigh, Khalid (2015) A Grammar of Ghomara Berber (Thesis)‎[6], Leiden == Hausa == === Etymology 1 === A widespread areal word. ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /bàː.bá/ (Standard Kano Hausa) IPA(key): [bàː.bə́] ==== Noun ==== bā̀ba m (possessed form bā̀ban) father Used as a term of address for a man of appropriate age to be one's father, or who shares one's father's name. === Etymology 2 === (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.) ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /bàː.báː/ (Standard Kano Hausa) IPA(key): [bàː.báː] ==== Noun ==== bā̀bā m (plural bā̀bànni, possessed form bā̀ban) eunuch impotent man === Etymology 3 === Probably an early borrowing from Kanuri báwà (“paternal aunt”). ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /báː.bà/ (Standard Kano Hausa) IPA(key): [báː.bə̀] ==== Noun ==== bābà f (possessed form bābàr̃) paternal aunt ==== References ==== Hausa vocabulary. In: Haspelmath, M. & Tadmor, U. (eds.) World Loanword Database. Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. === Etymology 4 === (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.) ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /báː.báː/ (Standard Kano Hausa) IPA(key): [báː.báː] ==== Noun ==== bābā m (possessed form bāban) indigo (the plant, or the dye from it) == Higaonon == === Noun === baba mouth == Hiligaynon == === Noun === bába or bâbâ mouth == Hungarian == === Etymology === Onomatopoeic. It may be a doublet of báb. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): [ˈbɒbɒ] Hyphenation: ba‧ba Rhymes: -bɒ === Noun === baba (plural babák) doll (toy in the form of a human) baby, infant (very young human child, particularly from birth until walking is mastered) Synonyms: csecsemő, kisbaba, bébi (in the possessive, folk songs) baby, darling (term of endearment for a girlfriend, or less often, a boyfriend) Synonyms: kedves, (also in the possessive) pár ==== Declension ==== ==== Derived terms ==== === Adjective === baba (comparative babább, superlative legbabább) (slang) swell, neat (exceptionally good, pleasing or enjoyable) ==== Declension ==== === References === === Further reading === baba in Géza Bárczi, László Országh, et al., editors, A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára [The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (ÉrtSz.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN. baba in Nóra Ittzés, editor, A magyar nyelv nagyszótára [A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (Nszt.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 2006–2031 (work in progress; published a–ez as of 2024). == Ilocano == === Etymology === From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *babaq. === Pronunciation === Hyphenation: ba‧ba IPA(key): /baˈba/, [bɐˈba] === Adverb === baba below ==== Derived terms ==== == Indonesian == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈba.ba/ Rhymes: -ba, -a Hyphenation: ba‧ba === Etymology 1 === Borrowed from Betawi baba. ==== Noun ==== baba (plural baba-baba) father === Etymology 2 === (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.) ==== Noun ==== baba (plural baba-baba) (nautical) rat === Etymology 3 === Cognate of Cebuano babá (“to piggyback”). ==== Verb ==== baba to piggyback: to carry someone on the back === Further reading === “baba”, in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia [Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016 == Istriot == === Etymology 1 === (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.) ==== Noun ==== baba f flask, large bottle === Etymology 2 === Borrowed from Serbo-Croatian baba. ==== Noun ==== baba f woman an elderly, chatty woman === References === Sandro Cergna (2015), Vocabolario del dialetto di Valle d'Istria, →ISBN, page 34 == Japanese == === Romanization === baba Rōmaji transcription of ばば == Kabyle == === Etymology === Inherited from Proto-Berber. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /baba/ === Noun === baba m (plural ibabaten) (my) father term of respect when speaking to an elderly man ==== Usage notes ==== In the singular, kinship terms ending in -a or -i are assumed to refer to a first-person singular possessor when used without affixes; for example, baba (“my father”). To refer to another possessor, a specific set of bound pronouns must be used. ==== Inflection ==== === References === Association Culturelle Numidya (2025), “Amawal, dictionnaire kabyle-français en ligne”, in Amawal‎[7], retrieved 2025 Dallet, Jean-Marie (1982), Dictionnaire kabyle-français: parler des At Mangellat, Algérie (in French), Paris, France == Kankanaey == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbaba/ [ˈbaː.bʌ] (“tree”, noun) Rhymes: -aba IPA(key): /baˈba/ [bʌˈba] (“herb”, noun) Rhymes: -a Syllabification: ba‧ba === Noun === bába Eugenia mananquil Blanco (a myrtaceous tree with an edible fruit) === Noun === babá Laggera alata (a common composite herb with pinkish flowers) ==== Derived terms ==== === References === Morice Vanoverbergh (1933), “baba”, in A Dictionary of Lepanto Igorot or Kankanay. As it is spoken at Bauco (Linguistische Anthropos-Bibliothek; XII)‎[8], Mödling bei Wien, St. Gabriel, Österreich: Verlag der Internationalen Zeitschrift „Anthropos“, →OCLC, page 51 == Kashubian == === Etymology === Inherited from Proto-Slavic *bàba. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈba.ba/ Rhymes: -aba Syllabification: ba‧ba === Noun === baba f (colloquial, derogatory) woman, wife (humorous) synonym of akùszerka (“accoucheuse, midwife”) ==== Declension ==== === Further reading === Stefan Ramułt (1893), “baba”, in Słownik języka pomorskiego czyli kaszubskiego (in Kashubian), page 4 Sychta, Bernard (1967), “baba”, in Słownik gwar kaszubskich [Dictionary of Kashubian dialects] (in Polish), volumes 1 (A – Ǵ), Wrocław: Ossolineum, page 9 Jan Trepczyk (1994), “baba”, in Słownik polsko-kaszubski (in Kashubian), volumes 1–2 Eùgeniusz Gòłąbk (2011), “baba”, in Słownik Polsko-Kaszubski / Słowôrz Pòlskò-Kaszëbsczi‎[9] “baba”, in Internetowi Słowôrz Kaszëbsczégò Jãzëka [Internet Dictionary of the Kashubian Language], Fundacja Kaszuby, 2022 == Kikuyu == === Alternative forms === baaba === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /βàːβǎꜜ/ The first a is pronounced long. As for Tonal Class, Benson (1964) classifies this term into Class 6 with a disyllabic stem, together with mũgwacĩ, nyamũ, and so on. (Kiambu) (Limuru) As for Tonal Class, Yukawa (1981) classifies this term into a group including guka, gũtũ, mũguĩ, mũtwe, nyamũ, ruo, rũhĩ (pl. hĩ), rũkũ (pl. ngũ), taata (“my aunt”), ũta (pl. mota), ũthiũ (pl. mothiũ), and so on. (Ndia) The same underlying pattern as that of rũhĩ and mothiũ. (Nyeri) The same underlying pattern as that of mothiũ and ruo. === Noun === baba class 1 my father, dad ==== See also ==== (thy) thoguo; (his/her) ithe === References === == Latgalian == === Etymology === Borrowed from a Slavic language, from Proto-Slavic *baba. Doublet of buoba. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): [ˈbaba] Hyphenation: ba‧ba === Noun === baba f (diminutive babeņa) grandmother ==== Declension ==== ==== Synonyms ==== (dialectal) vace ==== Coordinate terms ==== dzeds (“grandfather”) === References === A. Andronov; L. Leikuma (2008), Latgalīšu-Latvīšu-Krīvu sarunu vuordineica, Lvava, →ISBN, page 10 == Lower Sorbian == === Etymology === Inherited from Proto-Slavic *baba. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbaba/ === Noun === baba f (diminutive babka) midwife old woman woman ==== Declension ==== === Noun === baba f (diminutive babka) sponge cake ==== Declension ==== === Further reading === Muka, Arnošt (1921, 1928), “baba”, in Słownik dolnoserbskeje rěcy a jeje narěcow (in German), St. Petersburg, Prague: ОРЯС РАН, ČAVU; Reprinted Bautzen: Domowina-Verlag, 2008 Starosta, Manfred (1999), “baba”, in Dolnoserbsko-nimski słownik / Niedersorbisch-deutsches Wörterbuch (in German), Bautzen: Domowina-Verlag == Lower Tanana == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /pæpæ/ === Noun === baba (possessed form baba') food dene baba' ― Native food ɬika baba' ― dog food ==== Derived terms ==== dets'eni baba' (“goosegrass”) dzenh babe' (“watermilfoil”) === References === Kari, James et al. (2024), Kari, James, editor, Lower Tanana Dene Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, page 69 == Luo == === Noun === baba father == Malay == === Pronunciation === (Johor-Selangor) IPA(key): /babə/ (Riau-Lingga) IPA(key): /baba/ Rhymes: -abə, -bə, -ə === Etymology 1 === Voiced bapa. ==== Noun ==== baba (Jawi spelling باب, plural baba-baba or baba2) father (male parent) ===== Synonyms ===== bapa (bapanda, bapai, bapak, bapang, papa) ayah (ayahanda, aya, yah) abah (aba, bah) rama === Etymology 2 === Possibly borrowed from Persian بابا (bâbâ). See Baba (honorific). ==== Alternative forms ==== babah ==== Noun ==== baba (Jawi spelling باب, plural baba-baba or baba2) A colonial Straits-born European, Eurasian, or Chinese man (as opposed to immigrant Chinese or European males) (archaic) Respectful term of address for a Portuguese gentleman ===== See also ===== Baba === Further reading === "baba" in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu (PRPM) [Malay Literary Reference Centre (PRPM)] (in Malay), Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017 Wilkinson, Richard James (1901), “باب baba”, in A Malay-English dictionary, Hong Kong: Kelly & Walsh limited, pages 72-73 Wilkinson, Richard James (1932), “baba”, in A Malay-English dictionary (romanised), volume II, Mytilene, Greece: Salavopoulos & Kinderlis, page 59 == Mansaka == === Etymology 1 === From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *babaq. ==== Adverb ==== baba below === Etymology 2 === From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *baqbaq. ==== Noun ==== baba mouth === Etymology 3 === From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *baba, compare Malay bawa. ==== Verb ==== baba to carry == Marshallese == === Pronunciation === (phonetics) IPA(key): [pˠɑːbˠɑ], (enunciated) [pˠɑ pˠɑ] (phonemic) IPA(key): /pˠæɰpˠæɰ/ Bender phonemes: {bahbah} === Noun === baba father daddy === References === Marshallese–English Online Dictionary == Matal == === Noun === baba father == Mwani == === Alternative forms === wawa === Etymology === From Proto-Bantu *bààbá. === Noun === baba class 1a (plural wababa) father == Naga Pidgin == === Etymology === Inherited from Assamese বাবা (baba). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ba.ba/ === Noun === baba father, baba Synonym: bap === Further reading === Shreedar, M.V. (1985), Standardized Grammar of Naga Pidgin‎[10], Mysore: Central Institute of Indian Languages == Nefamese == === Etymology === From Assamese বাবা (baba). === Noun === baba father, baba == Ngarluma == === Noun === baba water rain, rainwater === References === Aboriginal Languages of the Pilbara: Ngarluma (1990); HG == Nkonya == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /babaʔ/ === Noun === baba (plural ababa) termite == Old Czech == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): (13th CE) /ˈbaba/ IPA(key): (15th CE) /ˈbaba/ === Noun === baba f alternative form of bába ==== Declension ==== === Further reading === Jan Gebauer (1903–1916), “baba”, in Slovník staročeský (in Czech), Prague: Česká grafická společnost "unie", Česká akademie císaře Františka Josefa pro vědy, slovesnost a umění == Old Polish == === Etymology === Inherited from Proto-Slavic *bàba. First attested in 1393. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): (10th–15th CE) /baba/ IPA(key): (15th CE) /baba/ Homophone: Baba === Noun === baba f (related adjective babin) (attested in Greater Poland, Sieradz-Łęczyca, Masovia) grandma (parent's mother) (hapax legomenon) The meaning of this term is uncertain. (attested in Greater Poland) grandma (any old woman) (attested in Lesser Poland) woman (hapax legomenon) midwife (hapax legomenon) pear (Pyrus communis) (attested in Sieradz-Łęczyca, in the plural, astronomy, hapax legomenon) Pleiades (hapax legomenon) Corruption of the proper noun Bala. ==== Declension ==== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Descendants ==== Polish: baba Silesian: baba === References === Boryś, Wiesław (2005), “baba”, in Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego (in Polish), Kraków: Wydawnictwo Literackie, →ISBN Mańczak, Witold (2017), “baba”, in Polski słownik etymologiczny (in Polish), Kraków: Polska Akademia Umiejętności, →ISBN Bańkowski, Andrzej (2000), “baba”, in Etymologiczny słownik języka polskiego [Etymological Dictionary of the Polish Language] (in Polish) Sławski, Franciszek (1958-1965), “baba”, in Jan Safarewicz, Andrzej Siudut, editors, Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego [Etymological dictionary of the Polish language] (in Polish), Kraków: Towarzystwo Miłośników Języka Polskiego Krystyna Długosz-Kurczabowa (2021), “baba”, in Wielki słownik etymologiczno-historyczny języka polskiego, →ISBN Brückner, Aleksander (1927), “baba”, in Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego [Etymological Dictionary of the Polish Language] (in Polish), Warsaw: Wiedza Powszechna K. Nitsch, editor (1953), “baba”, in Słownik staropolski (in Polish), volume 1, Warsaw: Polish Academy of Sciences, page 49 B. Sieradzka-Baziur, Ewa Deptuchowa, Joanna Duska, Mariusz Frodyma, Beata Hejmo, Dorota Janeczko, Katarzyna Jasińska, Krystyna Kajtoch, Joanna Kozioł, Marian Kucała, Dorota Mika, Gabriela Niemiec, Urszula Poprawska, Elżbieta Supranowicz, Ludwika Szelachowska-Winiarzowa, Zofia Wanicowa, Piotr Szpor, Bartłomiej Borek, editors (2011–2015), “baba”, in Słownik pojęciowy języka staropolskiego [Conceptual Dictionary of Old Polish] (in Polish), Kraków: IJP PAN, →ISBN Ewa Deptuchowa, Mariusz Frodyma, Katarzyna Jasińska-Różycka, Magdalena Klapper, Tomasz Kolowca, Dorota Kołodziej, Mariusz Leńczuk, Joanna Duska, Maria Bugajska, Jan German, Beata Hejmo, Iwona Nobis, Dariusz Piwowarczyk, Ludwika Szelachowska-Winiarzowa, editors (2024), “baba”, in Baza Leksykalna Średniowiecznej Polszczyzny [Lexical Base of Medieval Polish] (in Polish), Instytut Języka Polskiego Polskiej Akademii Nauk Ewa Deptuchowa, Mariusz Frodyma, Katarzyna Jasińska, Magdalena Klapper, Dorota Kołodziej, Mariusz Leńczuk, Ludwika Szelachowska-Winiarzowa, Zofia Wanicowa, editors (2023), “baba”, in Rozariusze z polskimi glosami. Internetowa baza danych [Dictionaries of Polish glosses, an Internet database] (in Polish), Kraków: Pracownia Języka Staropolskiego Instytut Języka Polskiego Polskiej Akademii Nauk == Peranakan Indonesian == === Etymology === Borrowed from Betawi baba. === Noun === baba greetings for Chinese people (male) == Phuthi == === Etymology === From Proto-Bantu *-bába. === Verb === -baba to taste bitter ==== Inflection ==== This verb needs an inflection-table template. == Polish == === Pronunciation === Rhymes: -aba Syllabification: ba‧ba === Etymology 1 === Inherited from Old Polish baba. ==== Alternative forms ==== boba (“type of hat”) (Central Greater Poland, Września County, Poznań) ==== Noun ==== baba f (diminutive babka or babcia, augmentative babsko or babisko, related adjective babi or babski) (colloquial, somewhat derogatory or dialectal, Kuyavia, Radziejów, Suwałki, Augustów, Bory Tucholskie, Northern Borderlands, Southern Borderlands, Kociewie, Zagórze, Kielce, Ostróda, Warmia, Masuria, Northern Greater Poland) woman, crone, hag (female person; often one causing problems or one that is old) (colloquial or dialectal, Przemyśl, San river, Western Kraków, Sącz, Łącko, Zabrzeż, Babia Góra, Skawica, Kliszczak, Osielec, Podhale, Skawa, Zakopane, Lasovia, Tarnobrzeg, Kuyavia, Inowrocław, Kurpie, Łowicz, Far Masovian, Northern Borderlands, Southern Borderlands, Zagórze, Kielce, Masuria, Northern Greater Poland) woman; wife; girlfriend (female romantic partner, especially married) (childish or dialectal, Northern Borderlands, Southern Borderlands, Warmia, Masuria) grandmother (mother of one's mother or father) Synonyms: babcia, babka, babunia (colloquial, derogatory) female teacher Synonym: nauczycielka village woman (woman from a village) Synonyms: chłopka, wieśniaczka village seller (woman who sells things from a village) (Kurpie, used in folk tales) hag (evil female character) (Kociewie) grain hag (demon in the form of an old woman who scares children not to go into the grain) (Kociewie, obsolete) hag (unspecified, mythical figure of a woman in Grzybek on the Black Water Bridge, whose buttocks must be kissed by all who go to Osie for the first time) (obsolete) hag; witch, spellcaster Synonyms: czarownica, wiedźma (obsolete or dialectal, Ostróda, Warmia, Masuria, Northern Greater Poland) female beggar (woman who begs) Coordinate term: dziad (obsolete or dialectal, Podhale, Western Kraków, Southern Borderlands, Kamianets-Podilskyi, Drohobych, Near Masovian, Wilanów, obstetrics, Zagórze) midwife Synonyms: akuszerka, położna (obsolete) female hireling; female worker (obsolete) female pimp Synonym: stręczycielka (obsolete) snowwoman Synonym: bałwanica (Middle Polish or dialectal, Zagórze) synonym of znachorka (Middle Polish) synonym of płaczka (“mourner, griever”) (Middle Polish, chess) queen Synonyms: dama, hetman, królowa (Middle Polish) idol (female-shaped pillar representing a deity, an object of worship) (derogatory) pansy, big girl's blouse (male of weak or cowardly character) babka (cake in the shape of a truncated cone, with a round base, baked in a large, special form) Synonym: babka (engineering) ram (hydraulic hammer) (Western Lublin, Janów Lubelski County, Podlachia, Tykocin, Central Greater Poland, Kalisz) driver (thick piece of wood for driving piles, pressing oil, etc.) (Western Kraków, Pińczów, Kociewie, Więckowy, Near Masovian, Międzyrzec Podlaski) large sheaf Hypernym: snop (Podlachia, Tykocin) coal opening (hole in a stove for coals poured in to heat the room more quickly) (Kuyavia) star (luminous celestial body) Synonym: gwiazda (Podlachia, Tykocin, Western Kraków, Rudawa, Far Masovian, Ciechanów, Eastern Kraków, Tarnów, Northern Greater Poland, in the plural, astronomy) Pleiades Synonym: Plejady (Podlachia, Tykocin) old, thick pine Hypernym: sosna (Podlachia, Tykocin, Łowicz, Masuria, spinning) stool circle (short, thick, wooden circle in a spinning wheel attached to a screw at the stool) (Suwałki, Augustów Governorate) any of various freshwater sculpins of the genus Cottus Synonym: głowacz (Łowicz) chimney side (side channel in a brick chimney) (Southern Borderlands) Christmas bundle (bundle of straw placed on the floor on Christmas Eve) Hypernym: wiązka (Southern Borderlands) blunt end (wider end of an egg) (Kociewie, Ostróda) end (last sheaf of grain) Synonym: pępek (Kociewie) end (last potato bush) (Kociewie) horsing around (playing around with grain equipment) (Kociewie) nimbus (dark cloud) (Kociewie) net windlass (manual windlass for pulling nets out the water) Hypernym: kołowrót (Central Greater Poland, Kłecko) stack center (structural element of a grain or hay stack; the central, inner part of the stack) (Masuria) potato cake (baked good made with potatoes) (Warmia) hag (person in disguise taking part in the ritual round of houses before the Epiphany) (Ostróda) sliver (bundle of unspun fibres) Synonym: kądziel (Masuria, Skorupki) batlet (stick for washing laundry in a river or pond) Synonym: kijanka (Masuria, Laski Wielkie, Ełk County) scarecrow Synonym: strach (Warmia, Masuria) type of dance, considered the most famous (Northern Greater Poland, chiefly in the plural) smoke exhaust (hole in the ceiling through which smoke escapes into the chimney) (Northern Greater Poland) pocket (air under thin ice) (obsolete, timber rafting) kissing block (wooden block carved in the shape of a human head given to new rafters to kiss by rafters who are helping the new rafters with the rafting for the first time) (obsolete or dialectal, Krajna, Wyrzysk County, Far Masovian, Ciechanów, Bory Tucholskie, Masuria, Northern Greater Poland, fishing) seine barrel (narrow barrel with a pole through it, used for winding a seine line while fishing later placed on a sled on ice) (obsolete, sports) starting peg (peg that starts a game of croquet) (obsolete, engineering) tamping block (oak block with a handle used for tamping when laying stones, spreading gravel on road surfaces, etc.) (obsolete, art) painting pillow (leather pillow for applying paint in manual printing of canvases) (obsolete or dialectal, Central Greater Poland, Kielce, Opoczno County, Eastern Lublin, Żywiec, Podlachia, Międzyrzec Podlaski, Far Masovian, Ciechanów, Sieradz, Wieluń, Radomsko, Suwałki, Augustów Governorate, Podhale) plug (bundle of rags, wooden board for plugging the cavity of a stove or chimney) (obsolete or dialectal, Kurpie) bogie (booger) Synonym: babok (obsolete) hay block (bundle of hay used as a blockade for dangerous passages) (obsolete) hat form (a wooden form on which hats are ironed and shaped) Hypernym: forma (obsolete, sailing) boathook (obsolete) plantain (any plant of the genus Plantago) Synonym: babka (obsolete or dialectal, Biecz, Ropczyce-Sędziszów County, Podlachia, Tykocin, Northern Greater Poland) type of bulbous pear (obsolete, sailing) tight knot (knot on a mast twist that raftsmen can't undo) (obsolete, sailing) raft block (bundle of straw that will be placed in dangerous places on rivers to prevent the raft from running aground) (obsolete, mining) synonym of posułt (obsolete, hunting) Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius) Synonym: sójka (obsolete, hunting) type of wild duck (obsolete, university slang, games) leather ball (obsolete) pelican (seabird of the family Pelecanidae) Synonym: pelikan (obsolete) tuna (fish of the genus Thunnus) Synonym: tuńczyk (Middle Polish) whipping block (Middle Polish) type of cannon; gun Hypernyms: armata, działo ===== Declension ===== ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== === Etymology 2 === Borrowed from Turkish baba. First attested in 1633, but in common usage only as of the 20th century. ==== Noun ==== baba f balbal (stone figure used in cult or spiritual functions) (Middle Polish) jail; dungeon ===== Declension ===== === References === === Further reading === baba in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN baba in Polish dictionaries at PWN Maciej Czeszewski (2006), “baba”, in Monika Szewczyk, editor, Słownik polszczyzny potocznej, 1 edition, Warsaw: Polish Scientific Publishers PWN, →ISBN, page 22 Woliński, Marcin; Saloni, Zygmunt; Wołosz, Robert; Gruszczyński, Włodzimierz; Skowrońska, Danuta; Bronk, Zbigniew (2020), “baba”, in Słownik gramatyczny języka polskiego [Grammatical Dictionary of Polish]‎[37], 4. online edition, Warszawa Maria Renata Mayenowa; Stanisław Rospond; Witold Taszycki; Stefan Hrabec; Władysław Kuraszkiewicz (2010-2023), “baba”, in Słownik Polszczyzny XVI Wieku [A Dictionary of 16th Century Polish] Samuel Bogumił Linde (1807–1814), “baba”, in Słownik języka polskiego Aleksander Zdanowicz (1861), “baba”, in Słownik języka polskiego, Wilno 1861 J. Karłowicz, A. Kryński, W. Niedźwiedzki, editors (1900), “baba”, in Słownik języka polskiego (in Polish), volume 1, Warsaw, page 77 Jan Karłowicz (1900), “baba”, in Słownik gwar polskich [Dictionary of Polish dialects] (in Polish), volume 1: A do E, Kraków: Akademia Umiejętności, page 27 Halina Świderska (1929), “baba”, in Dialekt Księstwa Łowickiego (in Polish), Warsaw, →ISBN, page 344 Adam Tomaszewski (1930), “baba”, in Gwara Łopienna i okolicy w północnej Wielkopolsce‎[38] (in Polish), Kraków: Polska Akademia Umiejętności, page 104 Bernard Sychta (1980), “baba”, in Hanna Taborska, Anna Cieślarowa, editors, Słownictwo kociewskie na tle kultury ludowej (in Polish), volume 1, Wrocław, Warsaw, Krakow, Gdańsk: Polska Akadamia Nauk, →ISBN, page 7 Zofia Stamirowska (1987-2024), “baba”, in Anna Basara, editor, Słownik gwar Ostródzkiego, Warmii i Mazur, volume 1, Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich Wydawnictwo Polskiej Akademii Nauk, →ISBN, page 137 Józefa Kobylińska (2001), “baba”, in Marian Kucała, editor, Słownik gwary gorczańskiej (zagórzańskiej)‎[39] (in Polish), Kraków: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Akademii Pedagogicznej, →ISBN, page 2 Władysław Paryl (2004), “baba I-VI”, in Słownik gwary przesiedleńców ze wsi Tuligłowy koło Komarna; Polskie Słownictwo Kresowe (in Polish), Kraków: Wydawnictwo Lexis, page 22 Stanisław Cygan (2018), “baba”, in Słownik gwary opoczyńskiej‎[40] (in Polish), Opoczno, page 32 Henryk Gadomski (2022), “baba”, in Mirosław Grzyb, Krystyna Łaszczych, Tadeusz Grec, editors, Słownik dialektu kurpiowskiego (in Polish), Ostrołęka: Związek Kurpiów, →ISBN, page 52 Günter Donder (2011), “bäbä”, in Kleines masurisches Wörterbuch mit Lesestücken und einen Tonträger‎[41] (in German), archived from the original on 10/12/2023, page 11 baba in Słownik Gwary Borowiackiej baba in Słownik Wyrazów Dyferencjalnych Justyna Kobus, Krystyna Wilkosz, editors (2024), “baba”, in Słownik języka mieszkańców okolic Kłecka, Praca na roli i w gospodarstwie‎[42] (in Polish), Poznań: Wydawnictwo „Poznańskie Studia Polonistyczne”, →ISBN, page 51 == Portuguese == === Etymology 1 === From the hypothesized Vulgar Latin *baba, ultimately imitative of children speech on the pattern of the repeated syllable ba. Compare French bave. ==== Pronunciation ==== Rhymes: -abɐ Hyphenation: ba‧ba ==== Noun ==== baba f (plural babas) drool, dribble, slobber (Brazil, vulgar) Cowper's fluid; pre-ejaculate ===== Derived terms ===== === Etymology 2 === See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form. ==== Verb ==== baba inflection of babar: third-person singular present indicative second-person singular imperative === Further reading === “baba”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026 “baba”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026 == Ratagnon == === Noun === baba mouth == Romanian == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): [ˈba.ba] === Noun === baba definite singular of babă == Salar == === Etymology === Cognate with Azerbaijani baba. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): [pɑpɑ] === Noun === baba grandfather === References === 林莲云 [Lin Lianyun] (1985), “baba”, in 撒拉语简志 [A Brief History of Salar]‎[43], Beijing: 民族出版社: 琴書店, →OCLC, page 126 Ma, Chengjun; Han, Lianye; Ma, Weisheng (December 2010), “baba”, in 米娜瓦尔 艾比布拉 (Minavar Abibra), editor, 撒维汉词典 (Sāwéihàncídiǎn) [Salar-Uyghur-Chinese dictionary] (in Chinese), 1st edition, Beijing, →ISBN, page 30 == Senhaja de Srair == === Etymology === Inherited from Proto-Berber, from Proto-Afroasiatic *ʔab-. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /baba/ === Noun === baba m (usually uncountable, Tifinagh spelling ⴱⴰⴱⴰ) (my) father Synonym: lwalid Aryaz-iyya d baba. ― This man is my father. ==== See also ==== === References === Gutova, Evgeniya; Byler, Jonathan (2025), “Senhaja de Srair - English Dictionary”, in Webonary‎[44], retrieved 2025 Gutova, Evgeniya (2021) Senhaja Berber Varieties: Phonology, Morphology, and Morphosyntax (Thesis)‎[45], Paris, France: HAL == Serbo-Croatian == === Etymology === Inherited from Proto-Slavic *baba. First attested in the 15th century. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /bâba/ Hyphenation: ba‧ba === Noun === bȁba f (Cyrillic spelling ба̏ба, augmentative babetina) (regional) grandmother Da je (moja) baba muško, zvala bi se Duško. ― If my grandmother were a man, her name would be Duško. (a rhyming expression about impossible conditions) (usually derogatory) old woman, hag (derogatory) female person ==== Declension ==== ==== Synonyms ==== (grandmother; grandma): báka, nena === References === === Further reading === “baba”, in Hrvatski jezični portal [Croatian language portal] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2006–2026 == Shona == === Etymology === From Proto-Bantu *bààbá. === Noun === babá class 1a (plural vababá class 2) father (Christianity) father (priest) Synonym: fata == Silesian == === Etymology === Inherited from Old Polish baba. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈba.ba/ Rhymes: -aba Syllabification: ba‧ba === Noun === baba f (sometimes derogatory) woman; old woman (female person, especially an older one) Synonyms: kobiyta, niywiasta, (Cieszyn) żyńskŏ wife; girlfriend (female romantic partner) Synonyms: moja, ślubnŏ, żōna midwife Synonym: hebama grandma (mother of a parent) female beggar (woman who begs) female quack (female incompetent doctor) female herbalist (woman who deals with herbs) female matchmaker (woman who sets up couples) narrowleaf plantain (Plantago lanceolata) pile driver (machine for forcing a pile, a long beam, into the ground) (derogatory) pansy, big girl's blouse (male of weak or cowardly character) babka (type of cake) scarecrow; female effigy common pear, (Pyrus communis) Synonym: babka large wooden hammer pipe running from an oven to a chimney (mining) hammer for mining roof over the hearth of a furnace that discharges smoke into the chimney chimney with a bulging, spherical shape (forging) small anvil for striking a scythe or a sickle Synonym: babka (agriculture) group of sheaves of grain next to each other covered in another sheaf ==== Declension ==== === Further reading === baba in dykcjonorz.eu baba in silling.org Bogdan Kallus (2020), “baba”, in Słownik Gōrnoślōnskij Gŏdki, IV edition, Chorzów: Pro Loquela Silesiana, →ISBN, page 234 Henryk Jaroszewicz (2022), “baba”, in Zasady pisowni języka śląskiego (in Polish), Siedlce: Wydawnictwo Naukowe IKR[i]BL, page 62 Eugeniusz Kosmała (2023), Dykcjōnôrz Polsko-Ślonskiy (in Silesian), b, page 1 Barbara Podgórska; Adam Podgóski (2008), “+”, in Słownik gwar śląskich [A dictionary of Silesian dialects] (in Polish), Katowice: Wydawnictwo KOS, →ISBN, page 28 Aleksandra Wencel (2023), “baba”, in Dykcjůnôrz ślų̊sko-polski, page 32 Michał Przywara (c. 1900), “baba”, in Narzecza śląskie napisał ks. Michał Przywara. C. Słownik‎[46] == Slovak == === Etymology === Inherited from Proto-Slavic *baba. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /baba/, [ˈbaba] Rhymes: -aba Hyphenation: ba‧ba === Noun === baba f (colloquial) old woman (colloquial) girl (dated) midwife (dated) doll Synonym: bábika (dated) puppet Synonym: maňuška (dated) hash brown Synonyms: zemiaková placka, zemiaková baba ==== Declension ==== ==== Derived terms ==== babský (adjective) babsky (adverb) babisko === Further reading === “baba”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV [Dictionary portal of the Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Science] (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2003–2026 == Slovene == === Etymology === Inherited from Proto-Slavic *baba. First attested in the 16th century === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /bàːba/ === Noun === baba f old woman, hag ==== Declension ==== ==== Derived terms ==== bábica === Further reading === “baba”, in Slovarji Inštituta za slovenski jezik Frana Ramovša ZRC SAZU (in Slovene), 2014–2026 == Slovincian == === Etymology === Inherited from Proto-Slavic *bàba. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈba.ba/ Rhymes: -aba Syllabification: ba‧ba === Noun === baba f (diminutive babjina, augmentative babjiszczô or babskô, related adjective babjy, possessive adjective babjyn) old woman (derogatory) woman, broad female animal ==== Declension ==== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== === References === Lorentz, Friedrich (1908), “bãbă”, in Slovinzisches Wörterbuch‎[47] (in German), volume 1, Saint Petersburg: ОРЯС ИАН, page 10 == Southern Ndebele == === Etymology === From Proto-Bantu *-bába. === Verb === -bába to be bitter ==== Inflection ==== This verb needs an inflection-table template. == Spanish == === Etymology === From the hypothesized Vulgar Latin *baba (“drooling, infantile talk”), ultimately imitative of children's speech on the pattern of the repeated syllable ba. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbaba/ [ˈba.β̞a] Rhymes: -aba Syllabification: ba‧ba === Noun === baba f (plural babas) drool, dribble slime (Venezuela) baby alligator, caiman or crocodile ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== See also ==== cieno lama === Further reading === “baba”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025 == Swahili == === Etymology === Inherited from Proto-Bantu *bààbá. Likely reinforced by Arabic بابا (bābā) and Persian بابا (bâbâ). === Pronunciation === === Noun === baba class IX (plural baba class X) father (male parent) ==== Coordinate terms ==== mama ==== Derived terms ==== baba mkwe (“father-in-law”) baba wa kambo (“stepfather”) ubaba == Swazi == === Etymology === From Proto-Bantu *-bába. === Verb === -bába (intransitive) to taste bitter ==== Inflection ==== This verb needs an inflection-table template. == Tagalog == === Etymology 1 === From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *babaq, from Proto-Austronesian *babaq (“lower surface, below, bottom”). Cognate with Malay bawah (“under, below”). ==== Pronunciation ==== (Standard Tagalog) IPA(key): /ˈbabaʔ/ [ˈbaː.bɐʔ] (“chin; lowness”) Rhymes: -abaʔ IPA(key): /baˈbaʔ/ [bɐˈbaʔ] (“descent; getting off; downstairs; decrease; fruit picking in season”) Rhymes: -aʔ Syllabification: ba‧ba ==== Noun ==== babà (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜊ) lowness; low height (anatomy) chin Synonym: (Marinduque) sihang ===== Derived terms ===== ==== Noun ==== babâ (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜊ) descent; going down Synonyms: lapag, lunsad, lusong, (of stairs) panaog getting off; alighting (from a vehicle or animal) stepping down; abdication; resignation from office Synonyms: bitiw, abdika, dimiti downstairs; basement Synonyms: ibaba, lapag decrease; lowering (of quantity or measurement) fruit picking in season putting down the phone; hanging up on a phone call ===== Derived terms ===== === Etymology 2 === From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *baba, from Proto-Austronesian *baba (“to carry (a person piggyback)”). Cognate with Malay bawa (“to carry”). ==== Pronunciation ==== (Standard Tagalog) IPA(key): /baˈba/ [bɐˈba] (“piggyback”, noun; “carried piggyback”, adjective) Rhymes: -a IPA(key): /ˈbaba/ [ˈbaː.bɐ] (“(obsolete) loading into a boat”, noun) Rhymes: -aba Syllabification: ba‧ba ==== Noun ==== babá (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜊ) piggyback coitus of animals Synonym: kasta ===== Derived terms ===== ===== See also ===== ==== Adjective ==== babá (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜊ) carried piggyback ==== Noun ==== baba (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜊ) (obsolete) loading a person into a boat Synonyms: pagsakay, paglulan ===== Derived terms ===== === Etymology 3 === ==== Pronunciation ==== (Standard Tagalog) IPA(key): /baˈbaʔ/ [bɐˈbaʔ] Rhymes: -aʔ Syllabification: ba‧ba ==== Noun ==== babâ (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜊ) (obsolete) name of the Baybayin letter ᜊ (ba), corresponding to "ba" ==== See also ==== === Further reading === “baba”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, 2018 Noceda, Fr. Juan José de; Sanlucar, Fr. Pedro de (1860), Vocabulario de la lengua tagala, compuesto por varios religiosos doctos y graves, y coordinado por…, ultimamente aumentado y corregido por varios religiosos de la Orden de Agustinos calzados.‎[48] (overall work in Spanish and Classical Tagalog), Manila: Ramírez y Giraudier. Santos, Fr. Domingo de los (1835), Vocabulario de la lengua Tagala, primera y segunda parte. En la primera, se pone primero el Castellano, y despues el Tagalo. Y en la segunda al contrario, que son las raíces simples con sus acentos.‎[49] (overall work in Spanish and Classical Tagalog), Manila: La Imprenta nueva de D. José María Dayot, por Tomás Oliva. San Buena Ventura, Fr. Pedro de (1613), Vocabulario de lengua tagala. El romance castellano puesto primero. Primera, y segunda parte.‎[50] (overall work in Early Modern Spanish and Classical Tagalog), as directed by Gov. Gen. Juan de Silva, Pila, Laguna: La noble Villa de Pila, por Tomás Pinpin y Domingo Loag. page 2: “Abajar) Baba [(pc)] lo q̃ eſta alto” page 99: “B) Baba (pc) aſi llaman eſtos [a nueſtra]. B. nombrandola .|. babayaon .|. ᜊ. baba ang maſoſonor dito. B. [eſta que] aqui ſe a de ſeguir. Pero ſi la eſcriven o pronunçian es [ſimplemente]. B. vſanla ſiempre conſonante como noſotros q̃ yere en la bocal como, bata, bang̃is, bago, &c.” page 101: “Bajo) Baba (pc) no alto, mababa, ad) cualquier coſa baja” page 103: “Barba) Baba (pp) la carne [y no] el pelo o barba ſin pelo [como la] dela muger” page 147: “Carga) Baba (pc) de alguna coſa” page 147: “Cargar) Baba (pc) enlas eſpaldas algo” page 359: “Humillarſe) Baba (pp) y ſujetarſe [en lo] interior” page 398: “Lleuar) Baba [(pc) en barco] a alguna perſona” page 405: “Mano) Baba (pp) tener pueſta en la mejilla” page 414: “Melancolico) Baba [(pp)] eſtar pueſta la mano en la mejilla” Blust, Robert; Trussel, Stephen; et al. (2023) “*babaq₁”, in the CLDF dataset from The Austronesian Comparative Dictionary (2010–), →DOI Blust, Robert; Trussel, Stephen; et al. (2023) “*baba₁”, in the CLDF dataset from The Austronesian Comparative Dictionary (2010–), →DOI == Taíno == === Noun === baba father == Tarifit == === Alternative forms === aba === Etymology === Inherited from Proto-Berber, from Proto-Afroasiatic *ʔab-. === Noun === baba m (plural ibabaten, Tifinagh spelling ⴱⴰⴱⴰ) (my) father Synonym: lwalid ==== Related terms ==== == Ternate == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): [ˈba.ba] === Noun === baba father Synonym: aba ==== References ==== Rika Hayami-Allen (2001). A Descriptive Study of the Language of Ternate, the Northern Moluccas, Indonesia. University of Pittsburgh. == Tswana == === Etymology === From Proto-Bantu *-bába. === Verb === -bába (intransitive) to taste hot, spicy (intransitive) to taste bitter (intransitive) to itch == Tumbuka == === Verb === -baba (infinitive kubaba) to give birth to beget (of men) to bear, to carry on one's back ==== Derived terms ==== -babika (“to be born”) -babiwa (“to be born”) cibabiro (“womb”) === References === William Y. Turner (1996), Tumbuka/Tonga-English and English - Tumbuka/Tonga Dictionary‎[51], Central Africana Limited, page 4 == Turkish == === Etymology === From Ottoman Turkish بابا. First attested in 13th century. Nişanyan suggests the current word is a result of onomatopoeia found commonly in many languages. (In that respect, compare also papa and mama as translingual phenomena for father and mother.) Cognate with Southern Altai баабый (baabïy, “small baby”), папа (papa), Kazakh баба (baba), Bashkir баба (baba), Uzbek bobo, Uyghur بابا (baba), بوۋا (bowa), Turkmen baba, Azerbaijani baba (“grandfather”), etc. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /baˈba/ Hyphenation: ba‧ba === Noun === baba (definite accusative babayı, plural babalar) father (Bektashism) saint (slang) crime boss (slang) penis, dick (Bursa) roundabout ellipsis of iskele babası (“bollard, bitt”) ==== Declension ==== ==== Derived terms ==== === Adjective === baba (slang) top-notch, high-quality, very good ==== Descendants ==== → German: baba === Further reading === “baba”, in Turkish dictionaries, Türk Dil Kurumu Aktunç, Hulki (1998), “baba”, in Türkçenin büyük argo sözlüğü (tanıklarıyla) [Great Dictionary of Turkish Argot (with Attestations)] (in Turkish), Istanbul: YKY, page 55a Devellioğlu, Ferit (1980), “baba”, in Türk argosu: İnceleme ve sözlük (Aydin Kitabevi yayınları. Sözlük dizisi; 1)‎[52] (in Turkish), 6th edition, Ankara: Aydın Kitabevi, page 62a Püsküllüoğlu, Ali (2021), “baba”, in Türkçenin Argo Sözlüğü [Turkish Slang Dictionary] (in Turkish), 4th edition, Ankara: Arkadaş, →ISBN, page 35 == Turkmen == === Etymology === (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.) === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /baːˈba/, [bɑ̝ːˈbɑ̝], [-ˈβɑ̝] Hyphenation: bā‧ba === Noun === baba maternal grandfather term of address for old men ==== Declension ==== ==== Derived terms ==== === Further reading === “baba” in Enedilim.com “baba” in Webonary.org == Upper Sorbian == === Etymology === Inherited from Proto-Slavic *bàba. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbaba/ Rhymes: -aba Hyphenation: ba‧ba Syllabification: ba‧ba === Noun === baba f (diminutive babka) midwife (woman who attends births, helping women in labor) bundt cake old woman (elderly woman) ==== Declension ==== === Further reading === “baba”, in Mudra corpus [Upper Sorbian–Czech dictionary] (in Czech), 2024–2026 “baba” in Soblex == Venda == === Etymology === From Proto-Bantu *bààbá. === Noun === baba father == Wajarri == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /papa/ === Noun === baba water (not including sea water), rain == West Makian == === Etymology === Together with the polite yaya (“mother”), likely borrowed from Ternate baba (“father”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈba.ba/ === Noun === baba father ==== Usage notes ==== The term baba is used for addressing one's father, whereas the term fao is used for referring to a father. === References === Clemens Voorhoeve (1982), The Makian languages and their neighbours‎[53], Pacific linguistics == Woiwurrung == === Alternative forms === bâboop babeb papa baban (“mother”) pa-pa babep (“mother”) === Noun === baba mother ==== Derived terms ==== ba-bourn marnang (“thumb”) bababi-djinang (“big toe”) === References === == Yoruba == === Etymology 1 === ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /bà.bá/ ==== Noun ==== bàbá father, dad Synonyms: baba, àbá, iba, bàá, bà A term of respect or endearment for an older man, male relative, or a higher ranking man. A title for a man of a specific occupation (ex. bàbá-alágbẹ̀dẹ (“blacksmith”)). ===== Usage notes ===== While bàbá is generally synonymous with baba, bàbá is a more restricted definition. ===== Coordinate terms ===== ìyá (“mother”) ===== Derived terms ===== === Etymology 2 === ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /bā.bā/ ==== Noun ==== baba father Synonym: bàbá elderly man of wisdom, sage, elder Synonym: bàbá revered or senior leader or entity ògòǹgò, baba ẹyẹ ― The ostrich, the most revered of all the birds male ancestor Synonym: baba-ńlá A prefix for given names in the class orúkọ àmútọ̀runwá, given to children who are believed to be reincarnations of a male ancestor. (ex. Babájídé, Babátúndé). ===== Derived terms ===== === Etymology 3 === ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /bà.bà/ ==== Noun ==== bàbà copper (chemical element, Cu, atomical number 29) ===== Derived terms ===== bàbàganran (“bronze”) === Etymology 4 === Borrowed from English barber. ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /bá.bà/ ==== Noun ==== bábà barber Synonyms: onígbàjámọ̀, agẹrun, gẹrun-gẹrun === Etymology 5 === Possibly from Etymology 3 (bàbà (“copper”)), in reference to the copper-like color of sorghum ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /bà.bà/ ==== Noun ==== bàbà sorghum, millet, (in particular) Sorghum bicolor Synonyms: ọkà bàbà, jéró dark red color, in comparison to the color of sorghum Synonym: ẹpọ́n === Etymology 6 === Adjective sense derives from ideophone sense ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /bà.bà/, /bá.bá/ ==== Ideophone ==== bàbà or bábá (of an object) to be quickly and rapidly hovering ===== Derived terms ===== rá bàbà (“to hover”) ==== Adjective ==== bábá plentiful bábá owó ― Plentiful amount of money ===== Derived terms ===== ìbàábá (“secrecy, privacy”) == Zulu == === Etymology 1 === From Proto-Bantu *-bába. ==== Verb ==== -bába (intransitive) to taste hot, spicy (intransitive) to taste bitter ===== Inflection ===== === Etymology 2 === See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form. ==== Noun ==== baba simple singular of ubaba === References === C. M. Doke; B. W. Vilakazi (1972), “ɓaɓa”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “ɓaɓa (3.9) v.” C. M. Doke; B. W. Vilakazi (1972), “ɓaɓa”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “ɓaɓa (3-5.4) voc. interj.”