Learn Hardcore Spanish (Spain): El papá llegó ayer.

Spanish often uses the definite article with family nouns when the person is already identifiable from context. So el papá can mean something like the dad or, in the right context, simply dad.

Useful comparisons:

el papá = the dad / dad, when it is clear who is meant
mi papá = my dad, more explicit
Papá llegó ayer = also possible, especially when papá is used almost like a name

So Spanish does not always use a possessive like my where English often does.

What is the difference between papá and padre?

Papá is more personal and affectionate, like dad.
Padre is more neutral or formal, like father.

So:

papá = everyday, family use
padre = more formal, neutral, or descriptive

A child or family member is much more likely to say papá than padre in normal conversation.

What tense is llegó?

Llegó is the preterite form, third person singular, of llegar.

That means it describes a completed action in the past: the arrival happened and is finished.

Because the sentence includes ayer, a finished past time, the preterite is the normal tense here.

Why is there an accent on ?