Father has been used as both title and honorific in various languages, synonyms and historical contexts. It may sometimes denote a title of authority or of honour.
List of uses of "father" in various languages
By culture and/or language Ab (Semitic) Bwana ("our father"), from Swahili, meaning an important person or safari leader Abu in Kunya (Arabic), used as epithet for "father of X" Baba, mark of respect in: Indian honorific Hindu and Sikh Baba (honorific) in Persian language In Malaysia as an honorific of respect to address Chinese people born in the British Straits Settlements Batko, a Ukrainian honorific meaning "father" List of people considered father or mother of a field Founding father Father of the Nation/Father of the Country Pater Patriae Fathers of Confederation Founding fathers of the European Union Founding Fathers of the United States Pater familias (Latin), title for head of household in Ancient Rome
Personifications Father Time Father Christmas Ded Moroz ("Father Frost")
By religion God the Father
Buddhism Abbot (Buddhism) a title for a monk who holds the position of administrator of a Buddhist monastery or Buddhist temple
Christianity Patriarch (Greek, literally "father ruler") as a title for the primate of a Christian church Pope Church Fathers Abbot, an ecclesiastical title given to the male head of a monastery Father, as a honorific for a priest Aboona ("our father") in Syriac language Abuna ("our father") in Amharic and Tigrinya
See also
List of people considered father or mother of a field