01
der Dad
dad
A colloquial term borrowed from English for one's own father.
example
Mein Dad hat mir zum Geburtstag ein Fahrrad geschenkt.
My dad gave me a bicycle for my birthday.
der Dad
dad
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Meanings
Usage tips
Origin and register
'Dad' is a direct loanword from English. In German, it is used colloquially, especially by younger people, and is more common in spoken language than in written language.
EXAMPLE
Ich muss meinen Dad anrufen und fragen, ob er mich abholen kann.
I have to call my dad and ask whether he can pick me up.
Use in a sentence
The word 'Dad' is almost always used with a possessive pronoun like 'mein' (my), 'dein' (your), or 'ihr' (her/their). Using it with an article ('der Dad') is rare.
EXAMPLE
Mein Dad und ich gehen am Wochenende oft zusammen angeln.
My dad and I often go fishing together on the weekend.
Common mistake
Avoid using 'Dad' in formal or official contexts. In a business letter or when dealing with a government office, you would instead write 'mein Vater' (my father).
EXAMPLE
In der Bewerbung schrieb er: „Mein Vater ist von Beruf Ingenieur.“
In the application, he wrote: 'My father is an engineer by profession.'
Compare with
Dad vs Vater
father
'der Vater' and 'der Dad' can refer to the same person: the male parent. The difference is mainly in style. 'der Vater' is neutral and fits almost any situation, including at school, at the doctor's, or on forms. 'der Dad' is colloquial and sounds more personal, often youthful or casual. Learners may confuse the words because both can refer to one's own father figure. In normal or formal situations, 'Vater' is the safer choice; among friends, 'Dad' can sound natural.
Dad
Vor dem Training bringt mich mein Dad mit dem Auto zur Halle.
Before training, my dad drives me to the gym.
Vater
Wir rufen den Vater an, weil der Termin früher beginnt.
We are calling the father because the appointment starts earlier.
In real life
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