Daddy

The Peruvians are definitely a romantic bunch. Lots of couples in the streets and plenty of I love you messages written in rocks on the beach and carved into trees.

Karen + “Daddy”

This one is a particular favourite because of “Papi”.

“Papi” isn’t a Spanish name. It is a more endearing form of Papa, more or less equivalent to Daddy. And Peruvians use it and “Mami” (vs. Mama) for a whole range of situations. You might hear it when someone is on the phone to their actual mom or dad, or with their boyfriend or girlfriend, like above.

But you can also be called Mami or Papi or even Papicito (even more diminutive) as a complete stranger.  Stephen was first called Papi when he expressed some interest in some Peruvian handicrafts, and the Peruvian senora sitting behind her wares threw in a “Papi” to try and warm Stephen up for a purchase. Stephen wasn’t so sure he liked being called Daddy by a complete stranger, so in this case her strategy backfired.