tatu

Everyday

1. (Ukrainian) "Tatu" is the Ukrainian word for Dad when you call him or speak to him directly: "Tatu!" means "Dad!". The ordinary form is "tato" (тато) — dad. It sounds like "TAH-too" to an English ear. It is not an English word. tree →
2. (Swahili) "Tatu" means the number three. tree →
3. (Portuguese) "Tatu" means armadillo. tree →
4. t.A.T.u. was the name of a Russian pop duo. tree →

In the lessons

In lessons on Ukrainian heard on the street and at home, a child calls "Tatu!" to their father, just as an English child calls "Dad!"; "Mamo!" is "Mum!". Ukrainian changes the ending of a name or noun when you call someone (the vocative case), something English does not do. In Swahili counting: moja, mbili, tatu (one, two, three).

Examples

• (Ukrainian) "Tatu, look at my drawing!" Olenka shouted. tree →
• (Ukrainian) "Tatu" means "Dad!" when you call him. tree →
• (Ukrainian) When talking about him, Ukrainian children say "tato" — dad. tree →
• (Ukrainian) "Dobranich, tatu!" means "Good night, Dad!" tree →
• (Swahili) Moja, mbili, tatu — one, two, three. tree →
• (Portuguese) In Brazil, "tatu" is an armadillo. tree →
• Ukrainian has a special calling form, so "tato" becomes "tatu". tree →

Note

Not an English word. In Ukrainian it is the calling (vocative) form of "tato" (dad), written тату in Cyrillic letters; stress on the first syllable, "TAH-too". Do not confuse with "tattoo" (a picture on the skin), which sounds a bit like it.