pa
gb/pˈɑ/ us/pˈɑ/
A1
English
apa, apu, személyi asszisztens, hangosbemondó, Pennsylvania, PA, évi, évente, orvosasszisztens
NOUN
A1
INFORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s pa; Pa!
My pa taught me how to fish when I was little.
Kiskoromban apukám tanított meg horgászni.
Pa, can you pick me up after practice?
Apa, el tudsz jönni értem edzés után?
Her pa still lives on the same farm.
Learner examples
My pa is at home.
Apám otthon van.
I called Pa yesterday.
Tegnap felhívtam apámat.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse pa (father) with PA (an abbreviation like ‘personal assistant’).
Meaning
father (informal)
Collocations
my pa
|his pa
|her pa
|your pa
|ask Pa
|Pa said
|Pa and Ma
|visit Pa
Synonyms
dad (More common and neutral in everyday speech.)
|
pop (Informal; used in some families and regions.)
Antonyms
mom (The female parent, contrasted with father.)
Themes
family
|relationships
|daily_life
Definition
a person’s father (informal)
A father, especially when spoken to or about in an old-fashioned or informal way.
NOUN
B1
BUSINESS
2
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s PA
She works as the director’s PA.
Az igazgató személyi asszisztenseként dolgozik.
Email my PA to set up a meeting next week.
Írj e-mailt a személyi asszisztensemnek, hogy egyeztessen időpontot egy jövő heti megbeszélésre.
The job ad is for an experienced PA with strong calendar skills.
Learner examples
He has a PA.
Van személyi asszisztense.
My PA booked my flight.
A személyi asszisztensem foglalta le a repülőjegyemet.
Common mistake:
This meaning is usually written PA in capitals.
Meaning
personal assistant (abbreviation)
Collocations
hire a PA
|a new PA
|the CEO's PA
|my PA
|PA duties
|PA role
|PA support
Synonyms
assistant (Broader; not necessarily a personal assistant.)
|
secretary (Often more traditional; can overlap but not always the same role.)
Themes
work
|business
|office
Definition
a job: a person who helps a boss with work tasks
A personal assistant; someone whose job is to help a manager or professional with tasks such as scheduling, email, and organizing.
NOUN
B1
3
Usage pattern:
over the PA; on the PA
They made the announcement over the PA.
A bejelentést a hangosbemondón keresztül tették meg.
The coach’s voice boomed through the PA system.
Az edző hangja dübörgött a hangosbemondóban.
We couldn’t hear the PA because the crowd was so loud.
Learner examples
They spoke over the PA.
A hangosbemondón keresztül beszéltek.
The PA is very loud.
A hangosbemondó nagyon hangos.
Common mistake:
Usually written PA in capitals.
Meaning
public address system (abbreviation)
Collocations
over the PA
|on the PA
|announce over the PA
|a PA system
|the stadium PA
|the school PA
Synonyms
loudspeaker system (More general; not always used for formal announcements.)
Themes
technology
|events
|communication
Definition
speakers and a microphone for announcements
A public address system: equipment (microphones and loudspeakers) used to make announcements to a crowd.
NOUN
A2
4
Pennsylvania
B1
PA
C1
Usage pattern:
[city], PA
Their office is in Philadelphia, PA.
Az irodájuk Philadelphiában, Pennsylvania államban van.
Please write the state as PA on the form.
Kérjük, az űrlapon az államot PA-ként írja be.
We drove through PA on our way to New York.
Learner examples
I live in PA.
Pennsylvaniában élek.
She moved to Pittsburgh, PA.
Pittsburghbe, Pennsylvania államba költözött.
Common mistake:
In addresses it is written PA (not Pa or pa).
Meaning
Pennsylvania (abbreviation)
Collocations
Pittsburgh, PA
|Philadelphia, PA
|Harrisburg, PA
|Scranton, PA
|PA address
|in PA
Themes
geography
|travel
|government
Definition
short form of Pennsylvania (a US state)
The abbreviation for the US state of Pennsylvania, used especially in addresses.
B2
BUSINESS
5
Usage pattern:
[number] p.a.
The account pays 4% p.a. in interest.
A számla évi 4% kamatot hoz.
Average inflation was 2.1% p.a. over the decade.
Az átlagos infláció az évtized során évi 2,1% volt.
The fee is $120 p.a., billed yearly.
Learner examples
The interest is 3% p.a.
A kamat évi 3%.
Common mistake:
Usually written p.a. with periods; it follows the number (e.g., ‘5% p.a.’).
Meaning
per year (abbreviation)
Collocations
5% p.a.
|interest p.a.
|return p.a.
|growth p.a.
|salary p.a.
|increase p.a.
Synonyms
annually (More common in general writing.)
|
a year (Informal; often used with ‘per’ (per year).)
Antonyms
monthly (Happening or calculated each month rather than each year.)
Themes
business
|money
|finance
Definition
each year (used with numbers)
Per year; used with numbers to mean ‘each year’, especially in salaries, interest rates, and statistics.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
6
Usage pattern:
a PA; the PA
I saw a PA at the urgent care clinic.
A sürgősségi ambulancián egy orvosasszisztens vizsgált meg.
The PA reviewed my symptoms and ordered a test.
Az orvosasszisztens áttekintette a tüneteimet, és vizsgálatot rendelt el.
Ask the PA if you should adjust your medication.
Learner examples
The PA helped me today.
Ma az orvosasszisztens segített nekem.
Common mistake:
Usually written PA in capitals; not the same as ‘personal assistant’.
Meaning
physician assistant (abbreviation)
Collocations
see a PA
|a certified PA
|PA school
|PA program
|PA clinic
|PA appointment
Themes
health
|work
|medicine
Definition
a medical worker who treats patients with a doctor
A physician assistant: a licensed medical professional who examines patients, diagnoses conditions, and provides treatment, usually working with a doctor.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pa
IPA
GB/pˈɑ/
US/pˈɑ/
Syllables & stress
pa (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (pa)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: pa
- Plural: pas
Word family
Expressions
ma and pa
1/mˈɑ ˈænd pˈɑ/
fixed phrase
informal
one’s parents
mother and father
Examples
- I’m going to visit my ma and pa this weekend.
- His ma and pa live a few towns over.
- She brought her ma and pa to the graduation.
Learner examples
- My ma and pa are here.
ma-and-pa
1/mˈɑ ˈænd pˈɑ/
fixed phrase
informal
small family-run (business)
owned and run by a family
Examples
- We ate at a ma-and-pa restaurant on the corner.
- The town is full of ma-and-pa shops, not big chains.
- They’re trying to keep ma-and-pa businesses alive downtown.
Learner examples
- It is a ma-and-pa store.
over the pa
1/ˈoʊvɚ ðə pˈɑ/
fixed phrase
via the loudspeaker system
using the loudspeakers to speak to everyone
Examples
- They called my name over the PA.
- The principal spoke over the PA before classes started.
- Please don’t joke over the PA during an emergency.
Learner examples
- They made an announcement over the PA.