babbo

See also: Babbo

Italian

Etymology

From Vulgar Latin *bábbọ, accusative-ablative form of *bábbọs, childish term of onomatopoeic origin.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbab.bo/, [ˈbäbbo̞]
• Rhymes: -abbo
• Hyphenation: bàb‧bo

Noun

babbo m (plural babbi)

1. (regional, central Italy, familiar) dad, daddy
   • 1321, Dante Alighieri, La divina commedia: Inferno [The Divine Comedy: Hell] (paperback), 12th edition, Le Monnier, published 1994, Canto XXXII, lines 7–9, page 471:

     ché non è impresa da pigliare a gabbo ¶ discriver fondo a tutto l'universo, ¶ né da lingua che chiami mamma o babbo.

     For 'tis no enterprise to take in jest, ¶ to sketch the bottom of all the universe, ¶ nor for a tongue that cries for Mom or Dad.

Synonyms

• padre, papà

Derived terms

• Babbo Natale

See also

• mamma