Papaw
Grandfather, Southern family title.
Also called Pappaw, Pawpaw, grandpa.
Updated September 24, 2026
Papaw pronunciation
/PAP-aw/
Meaning
What a lot of Southern and Appalachian kids call their grandpa. It works as a name you say to his face and as the word for that role. Families spell it Papaw, Pappaw, or Pawpaw, but the job is the same: the older man at the head of the table. Often pairs with Mamaw, Meemaw, or Granny on the other side.
How folks use it
- “Papaw's out in the shed sharpening the chainsaw.”
- “Ask Papaw if he wants sweet tea.”
Origin and etymology
Built from pap or pa, old affectionate words for father, then stretched to grandfather the way Mamaw stretches mama. DARE finds Papaw and kin forms across the South and South Midland, strong in Appalachia. Exact family spelling varies; the fruit pawpaw is a different word that just happens to sound alike.
Frequently asked questions
Is Papaw the same as the pawpaw fruit?
No. Same sound, different thing. Papaw is grandpa. A pawpaw is a fruit.