World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesUncle
/ˈʌŋ.kəl/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
The brother of one's father or mother, or the husband of one's aunt.
"My uncle took me to the baseball game when I was visiting for the summer." - 2
A friendly term of address for an older male family friend or acquaintance.
"We always called him Uncle Bob, even though we were not actually related."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the Old French word 'oncle', which traces back to the Latin 'avunculus', meaning 'maternal uncle' (literally 'little grandfather', diminutive of 'avus'). It entered the English language during the Middle English period, eventually expanding to describe any brother of one's parents or the husband of one's aunt.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Uncle"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Uncle" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
tío
Transliteration: ˈti.o
"Mi tío vino a visitarnos ayer."
tio
Transliteration: ˈtʃi.u
"O meu tio comprou um carro novo."
oncle
Transliteration: ŏnk
"Mon oncle habite à Paris."
Onkel
Transliteration: ˈɔŋkl̩
"Mein Onkel kocht sehr gerne."
zio
Transliteration: ˈt͡si.o
"Mio zio lavora come ingegnere."
चाचा
Transliteration: chachā
Script: हिंदी देवनागरी
"मेरे चाचा एक अध्यापक हैं।"
叔叔
Transliteration: shūshu
Script: 中文汉字
"我的叔叔是一位医生。"
삼촌
Transliteration: sam-chon
Script: 한국어 한글
"삼촌이 저에게 선물을 주셨습니다."
叔父
Transliteration: oji
Script: 日本語
"私のおじは東京に住んでいます。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
View all English termsExtremely attractive, impressive, or striking in appearance.
An amount of something left over when requirements have been met; an excess of production or supply over demand.
An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.
Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Uncle"
Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.
Enhance Your Writing & Grammar Precision
Linguistic Origins & Word Stories
View all stories →How Are Palisade Cells Adapted for Photosynthesis (and Why Are They Called 'Palisade')?
Palisade mesophyll cells are column-shaped, densely packed with chloroplasts, and positioned near the leaf's upper surface to maximize light absorption for photosynthesis. Their name comes from the French word for a defensive fence of wooden stakes, referencing their tightly aligned, upright cellular structure.
What is a SLOT SWOT Analysis and How Do You Actually Do One?
A SLOT SWOT analysis is an expanded strategic planning framework that blends personal or organizational 'SLOT' (Strengths, Limitations, Opportunities, Threats) metrics with traditional 'SWOT' dynamics. It provides a granular approach to evaluating internal capabilities against external market realities.