[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/pa/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [P](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/p/) / pa # pa noun (pa, pas) — informal; abbreviation (p.a., Pa) «pa» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. (informal, old-fashioned) Pa is a word for father or dad, used mostly in old stories and in some families. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pa/#m1) 2. (abbreviation) p.a. means per annum, Latin for each year, as in a salary of 30,000 pounds p.a. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pa/#m2) 3. (science) Pa is the short symbol for pascal, the unit for measuring pressure. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pa/#m3) 4. (abbreviation) PA can mean a personal assistant (a helper at work) or a public address system (loudspeakers). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pa/#m4) 5. (New Zealand, Maori) A pa is a Maori village or hill fort, often with fences and ditches. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pa/#m5) ### In the lessons In old stories, such as books about farm families in America, children call their parents Ma and Pa. In science and weather, Pa (pascal) measures pressure; hPa (hectopascal) is used on weather maps. In everyday life the PA announces things at school or the station. In New Zealand history lessons a pa is a fortified Maori settlement. ### Examples - Pa came home from the fields at sunset. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pa/#x1) - Ma and Pa sat by the fire and told stories. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pa/#x2) - The job pays 25,000 pounds p.a. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pa/#x3) - Air pressure is measured in pascals, written Pa. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pa/#x4) - The weather map showed 1010 hPa over the city. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pa/#x5) - The head teacher spoke over the PA system. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pa/#x6) - We visited an old Maori pa on a hill. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pa/#x7) - Her PA arranges all her meetings. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pa/#x8) - You see yo' pa pull his shut off? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pa/#x9) ### Note Pa (dad) is informal and old-fashioned; most children today say dad or daddy. Ma and Pa go together. Pa (pascal) has a capital P because the unit is named after Blaise Pascal. p.a. is usually written with dots and lower-case letters. Do not mix up pa with par (as in golf) or pah (a sound of disgust). ## In Jewish tradition Not the word for father here. It is the short form of Pennsylvania in a publisher's address. In the primary lessons: In old stories, such as books about farm families in America, children call their parents Ma and Pa. In science and weather, Pa (pascal) measures pressure; hPa (hectopascal) is used on weather maps. In everyday life the PA announces things at school or the station. In New Zealand history lessons a pa is a fortified Maori settlement. ### Examples - Mordell, 4137 Leidy Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pa/#x1) - Published by the Dropsie College Philadelphia Pa. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pa/#x2) ### Note Pa (dad) is informal and old-fashioned; most children today say dad or daddy. Ma and Pa go together. Pa (pascal) has a capital P because the unit is named after Blaise Pascal. p.a. is usually written with dots and lower-case letters. Do not mix up pa with par (as in golf) or pah (a sound of disgust). ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «pa» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pa/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«pa» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pa.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «pa» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pa/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«pa» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/pa.html) on Mova free.