Hello,
In German, at least in what was Austria before World War I, as well as in the Slavic countries that once comprised the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, the word "papa" – with the stress on the first syllable – was used as a child's valediction and roughly analogous to "bye-bye" in English.
I have seen it in old letters written in German script, as well as once on a Ukrainian letter written in Cyrillic script. It takes the place of kisses drawn with an X at the bottom of intimate English letters. In fact, I once read that it is an imitation of the sound made by kissing the bottom of a letter.
I have found the same use of "papa" –when parting – in both Polish and Hungarian as well. Is it still used in standard German today?
Could those who have any knowledge of the use of this word as a parting, please explain the use in your language, or comment on its origin or use in letter writing?
Thank-you to anyone who can contribute.
In German, at least in what was Austria before World War I, as well as in the Slavic countries that once comprised the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, the word "papa" – with the stress on the first syllable – was used as a child's valediction and roughly analogous to "bye-bye" in English.
I have seen it in old letters written in German script, as well as once on a Ukrainian letter written in Cyrillic script. It takes the place of kisses drawn with an X at the bottom of intimate English letters. In fact, I once read that it is an imitation of the sound made by kissing the bottom of a letter.
I have found the same use of "papa" –when parting – in both Polish and Hungarian as well. Is it still used in standard German today?
Could those who have any knowledge of the use of this word as a parting, please explain the use in your language, or comment on its origin or use in letter writing?
Thank-you to anyone who can contribute.