Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂éwh₂os
Latin avunculus
Old French unclebor.
Middle English uncle
English uncle
From Middle English uncle, borrowed from Anglo-Norman uncle and Old French oncle, from Vulgar Latin *aunclum, from Latin avunculus (“maternal uncle”, literally “little grandfather”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂euh₂-n-tlo- (“little grandfather”), a dialectal diminutive of *h₂éwh₂ō (“grandfather, adult male relative other than one’s father”) (whence also Latin avus (“grandfather”)). Displaced native Middle English em (“uncle”) from Old English ēam (“maternal uncle”), containing the same Proto-Indo-European root, and Old English fædera (“paternal uncle”). Compare Saterland Frisian Unkel (“uncle”), Dutch nonkel (“uncle”), German Low German Unkel (“uncle”), German Onkel (“uncle”), Danish onkel (“uncle”). More at eam and eame.
Meanings
(US, colloquial) A cry used to indicate surrender.
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂éwh₂os
Latin avunculus
Old French unclebor.
Middle English uncle
English uncle
From Middle English uncle, borrowed from Anglo-Norman uncle and Old French oncle, from Vulgar Latin *aunclum, from Latin avunculus (“maternal uncle”, literally “little grandfather”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂euh₂-n-tlo- (“little grandfather”), a dialectal diminutive of *h₂éwh₂ō (“grandfather, adult male relative other than one’s father”) (whence also Latin avus (“grandfather”)). Displaced native Middle English em (“uncle”) from Old English ēam (“maternal uncle”), containing the same Proto-Indo-European root, and Old English fædera (“paternal uncle”). Compare Saterland Frisian Unkel (“uncle”), Dutch nonkel (“uncle”), German Low German Unkel (“uncle”), German Onkel (“uncle”), Danish onkel (“uncle”). More at eam and eame.
Meanings
The brother or brother-in-law of one’s parent.
And it was while all were passionately intent upon the pleasing and snake-like progress of their uncle that a young girl in furs, ascending the stairs two at a time, peeped perfunctorily into the nursery as she passed the hallway—and halted amazed. 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter I, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC, page 14:
The male cousin of one’s parent.
(endearing) Used as a fictive kinship title for a close male friend of one's parent or parents.
(euphemistic) Used as a title for the male companion to one's (usually unmarried) parent.
(figuratively) A source of advice, encouragement, or help.
(UK, dated, informal) A pawnbroker.
December 1843, William Makepeace Thackeray, "Grant in Paris" (review), in Fraser's Magazine
A chain hangs out of the pocket of his velvet waistcoat , by which we may conclude that he has a watch , though we have known many gents whose watches were at their uncle's (as the fashionable term for the pawnbroker goes)
(especially, in the Southern US, qualifier:parts of UK and South Asia) An affectionate term for a man of an older generation than oneself, especially a friend of one's parents, by means of fictive kin.
(Southern-US, archaic, slang) An older African-American male.
Plain old uncle as he [Socrates] was, with his great ears, — an immense talker. 1850, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Representative Men:
(Brunei, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, informal) Any middle-aged or elderly man older than the speaker and/or listener.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
uncles
Number=Plur
lexicographic
Antonyms
aunt (antonym(s) of “with regard to gender”) · aunty (antonym(s) of “India”) · boy (antonym(s) of “African-American”) · nephew (antonym(s) of “with regard to ancestry”) · niece (antonym(s) of “with regard to ancestry”)
nan-hbl 母舅 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ru дя́дя (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · ms bapa saudara (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · th ตา (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · fi setä (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · el θείος (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ru дя́дя (source of advice, encouragement, or help) · nan-tws 阿伯 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · qu kaku (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · rsk бачи (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · es tío (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sh čika (close male friend of the parents) · ru ростовщи́к (UK informal: pawnbroker — see also pawnbroker) · kab zizi (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ksi tani baʼ (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ota دایی (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · pdt Onkel (nds) (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · hy քեռի (source of advice, encouragement, or help) · ota عموجه (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · cmn 叔叔 (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · la avunculus (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · gni ngaboo (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · pl stryj (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · kum атасыны агъасы (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · lt dėdė (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · frr Oom (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nl nonkel (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · hak 姑丈 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · se eanu (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ee tɔɖe (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · bg стри́ко (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · my ဘကြီး (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ml വല്യച്ചന് (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ksi tani pung (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · my ဦး (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · qu qaka (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · yag tanowa (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nb pantelåner (UK informal: pawnbroker — see also pawnbroker) · qu kaka (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · cv тете (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · lv tēvocis (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nl suikeroom (source of advice, encouragement, or help) · hi चाचा (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sc tziu (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · pl wuj (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · fa-ira اَفْدَر (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · kum атасыны иниси (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · crh enişte (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sh čiko (close male friend of the parents) · nv azhéʼé yázhí (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sco mither-brither (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · amf aarák (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sh течо (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · io onklulo (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · rsk шовґор (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · cmn 姨夫 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · eu osaba (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sv ingift farbror (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · th ลุง (close male friend of the parents) · fla smamáʔ (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · hak 阿舅 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ee wɔfa (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · rom kak (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · tum sibweni (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · bal ناکو (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ta மாமா (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · pap tio (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · yue 舅父 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ur کاکا (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ko 아저씨 (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · nb farbror (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nb onkel (UK informal: pawnbroker — see also pawnbroker) · nan-hbl 姨丈 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · mn авга ах (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · hu bácsi (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · hi मामा (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · bn ফুফা (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · su mang (close male friend of the parents) · scn zu (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · mr काका (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nrf aonclle (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · gup ngadjadj (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ta சித்தப்பா (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · da onkel (UK informal: pawnbroker — see also pawnbroker) · ca tio (close male friend of the parents) · hy քեռի (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · mn авга эрэгтэй дүү (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ar زَوْجُ الخالة (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · skd ka·ka· (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ps تره (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · fi kummisetä (source of advice, encouragement, or help) · fy omme (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · th น้า (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sv mors svåger (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · hu nagybácsi (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · aii ܚܵܠܵܐ (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · th ปู่ (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · ht tonton, monnonk (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · cv мучи (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · tl tito (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · id paman (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · vec zhio (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · gld эчэкэ (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ta பெரியப்பா (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ar خَال (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · chr ᎡᏚᏥ (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nv ayáázh (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sh amidža (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · cmn 姑丈 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ckb خاڵ (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sv farbror (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nb farbror (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · ce ваша (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ja 伯父貴 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · pdc Onkel (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sk ujo (close male friend of the parents) · om eessuma (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · fa-ira خالو (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · mrc nkwii (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · su amang (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sl stric (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ia oncle (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · naq ǁnaosab (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sv onkel (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · rue у́йко (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · hak 母舅 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · th น้า (close male friend of the parents) · nan-hbl 阿丈 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · tr dayı (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · hi काका (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · bho काका (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · cs strýc (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · bn খালু (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · hu bácsi (close male friend of the parents) · bqi کاکا (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · cmn 伯伯 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · yue 姨丈 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ka ბიძია (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · crh emce (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · alt таай (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · fa-ira اُوْدَر (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · kk nağaşı (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ks پۄپھُو (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · la thius (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ur تایا (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · alt ака (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · la patruus (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ka ბიძა (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · aii ܓܲܒ݂ܪ ܥܲܡܬܵܐ (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sq ungj (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · eo onklo (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ps ماما (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · cmn 姑父 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · vo hiter (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · tcs ankel (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · az dayı (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · th ลุง (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · stq Oom (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · cmn 舅父 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · amf imbána (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sk strýko (close male friend of the parents) · nb onkel (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · gup ngabba (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nb morbror (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ca oncle (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ja 叔父 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · cmn 姨父 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ru дя́дя (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · bal ماما (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · fy omke (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · hi ताऊ (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ko 아저씨 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · cv пичче (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nl oom (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · kum анасыны инеси (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sc tiu (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ulk bab (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · as মোমাই (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · crh ağa (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ka ძია (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · bn মামা (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sh течa (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · cmn 姨丈 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nv abízhí (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · lv mātes brālis (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ast tíu (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · tk aga (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · alt тай (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nan-tws 阿丈 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · tk daýy (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · id om (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · mk те́тин (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · vec sio (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · be дзя́дзька (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ml മാമന് (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · az əmi (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nrf oncl'ye (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · pjt mama maḻatja (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · mt ziju (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · djk omu (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · aii ܓܲܒ݂ܪ ܚܵܠܬܵܐ (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · pjt mama puḻka (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · grc θεῖος (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · mfe tonton (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sh стриц (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · oc quenque (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · xdq уцци́ (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ny tsibweni (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nv adáʼí (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · bg свако (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sk strýko (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · hy հորեղբայր (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ksi wini (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · kmr xal (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · kk немере аға (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ko 삼촌 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · fi setä (close male friend of the parents) · mk чи́чко (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sa मातुल (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ckb مام (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · he דּוֹד (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · fi setä (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · hi अंकल (close male friend of the parents) · qu yaya (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · as খুৰা (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sv ingift morbror (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · bn চাচা (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · gd bràthair-athar (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · prs ماما (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · kmr ap (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sh чика (close male friend of the parents) · mn нагац эрэгтэй дүү (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sq dajë (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · cs strýček (source of advice, encouragement, or help) · ml ചെറിയച്ചന് (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · de Onkel (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · hak 阿叔 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · shn လုင်း (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sid wosiila (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · yue 姑丈 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · pt tio (source of advice, encouragement, or help) · ang ēam (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · tyv даайы (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ks ماسُو (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ang fædera (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · cst 'et̄e (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ja 叔父貴 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · se eahki (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sco uncle (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · fi eno (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · gd bràthair-màthar (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ru дя́дька (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · kmr mam (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sc ciu (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · oc oncle (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ks مام (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ca tio (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · hak 姨丈 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · tyv аккызы (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nan-hbl 阿舅 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · vec barba (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · su mamang (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · gld гусин (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · haw makua kāne (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · tl tiyo (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · om wasiila (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · prs کَاکو (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · pl stryjek (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ro unchi (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nan-hbl 姑丈 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ms mamanda (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · dlm naul (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · fr oncle (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sh tečo (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sa पितृव्य (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · el θείος (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · sh čiča (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nan-hbl 阿叔 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · vi chú (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · fa-ira دایی (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · min mamak (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · kk ağa (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ar زَوْجُ العَمّة (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · haw ʻanakala (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sh чико (close male friend of the parents) · ks پیٔتٕر (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · br eontr da-heul (source of advice, encouragement, or help) · hi अंकल (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · sh ujak (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · izh däädä (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · prs کَاکَا (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ur ماما (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ca tiet (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sh stric (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · tr enişte (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · yi פֿעטער (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · vi bác (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · my ကို (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · dtp mamai (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · grc πάτρως (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · bo ཨ་ཁུ (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · fi setäpuoli (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ru дя́дюшка (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · bg чи́чо (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · fur barbe (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · cmn 叔父 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sh даиџа (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · cs strýček (close male friend of the parents) · djk tiyu (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · enm em (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ml അമ്മാവന് (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · fa-ira عَمو (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · pl wujek (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · br eontr (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · gl tío (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · mk ву́јко (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · uk дя́дько (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · fi enopuoli (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · th อา (close male friend of the parents) · bg ву́йчо (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ms pakcik (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sh daidža (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nl oompje (source of advice, encouragement, or help) · sv fars svåger (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · gd uncail (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · mk стри́ко (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · th ลุง (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · da farbror (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · yue 叔叔 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · rm barba (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · amf eiké (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ee tɔgã (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ur چَچا (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · is frændi (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · mi matua kēkē (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · tr amca (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · mr काका (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · pt tio (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · vo ziom (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · cmn 舅舅 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · aii ܥܲܡܵܐ (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · bal کاکہ (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sco eme (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · my ဘထွေး (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · id om (close male friend of the parents) · mhn barba (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · fr tonton (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nb filleonkel (close male friend of the parents) · lv tēva brālis (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · id om (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · ga uncail (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · be дзя́дзька (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · izh setä (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ltg dzedzeits (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sq xhaxha (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · bo ཨ་ཞང (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ota عم (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · scn ziu (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · izh eno (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sh tetak (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · enm uncle (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · pt tio (close male friend of the parents) · nan-hbl 阿伯 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sq bacë (close male friend of the parents) · nl pandjesbaas (UK informal: pawnbroker — see also pawnbroker) · ar عَمّ (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ja おじさん (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · rm aug (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · hi अंकल (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sh амиџа (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · mr मामा (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · th อา (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · da morbror (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sv morbror (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · et onu (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nan-tws 阿叔 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · cy ewythr (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · se čeahci (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · lo ລຸງ (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · be дзя́дзя (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ka ძია (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · cmn 叔叔 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · da onkel (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · vi cậu (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · tl tiyuhin (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sk ujo (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · yue 伯伯 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · hak 阿伯 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · mn нагац ах (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · alt ага (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sh teča (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · nan-tws 阿舅 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · crh dayı (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · uk дя́дько (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · sei aaitz (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · yue 叔叔 (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · sh чичa (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · fro oncle (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sh ујак (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · am ኣጎት (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · chn tot (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · bg калеко (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · haw ʻanakala (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · kum анасыны агъасы (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · dsb wujk (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · cv кукка (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · si මාමා (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · it zio (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · su mang (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · sh тетак (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · pt tio (form of address to a man by young people or children in some countries) · pam bapa (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sq fajdexhi (UK informal: pawnbroker — see also pawnbroker) · cmn 伯父 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · sq xhaxha (close male friend of the parents) · as বৰদেউতা (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · med apa (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · grc μήτρως (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · ja 伯父 (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent) · la barbas (brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂éwh₂os
Latin avunculus
Old French unclebor.
Middle English uncle
English uncle
From Middle English uncle, borrowed from Anglo-Norman uncle and Old French oncle, from Vulgar Latin *aunclum, from Latin avunculus (“maternal uncle”, literally “little grandfather”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂euh₂-n-tlo- (“little grandfather”), a dialectal diminutive of *h₂éwh₂ō (“grandfather, adult male relative other than one’s father”) (whence also Latin avus (“grandfather”)). Displaced native Middle English em (“uncle”) from Old English ēam (“maternal uncle”), containing the same Proto-Indo-European root, and Old English fædera (“paternal uncle”). Compare Saterland Frisian Unkel (“uncle”), Dutch nonkel (“uncle”), German Low German Unkel (“uncle”), German Onkel (“uncle”), Danish onkel (“uncle”). More at eam and eame.
Meanings
(colloquial, transitive) To address somebody by the term uncle.
(colloquial, intransitive) To act like, or as, an uncle.
Betelgeuse Five, where he both fathered and uncled Ford 1979, Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: