What does uncle mean?
Uncle is the standard English kinship noun for a parent's brother, and more broadly for the husband of one's aunt. The word is neutral in register and commonly used in family conversation, correspondence, and formal genealogical records. Although its literal family meaning dominates, an uncle can also refer to a man addressed familiarly by someone younger, particularly in certain communities such as South Asian English. In that informal sense, the expression may convey respect, warmth, or social familiarity rather than a claimed family relationship. The term is pluralized as uncles and forms the possessive uncle's. Its unusual history helps explain why the English form looks so different from many other European kinship words. The word preserves a Latin form that originally referred to a maternal uncle, while the familiar meaning has settled into a stable and broadly recognizable part of English.
nounA person who is the brother of one's parent, or more broadly, the husband of one's aunt.
- The brother of one's parent.
- The husband of one's aunt, or by extension another man married to one's parent's sibling.
"My uncle came to dinner and told us an amusing story from his travels."
"My uncle drove us to the airport."
"I asked my uncle whether he would help me move the furniture."
The standard plural is uncles; the possessive form is uncle's.
"My uncles live in different parts of the country."
Uncle comes from a Latin word that originally meant a maternal uncle, giving this everyday family term an unexpectedly distinctive history.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does uncle come from?
The English word entered Middle English from Old French oncle, which came from Latin avunculus. Latin avunculus originally denoted a maternal uncle and was a diminutive of avus, meaning grandfather. English avuncular comes from the same Latin source, while Spanish tío and Italian zio also descend from Latin forms associated with avunculus.
How uncle is actually used
The term is neutral in register and standard in both everyday speech and formal family records. In some English-speaking communities, particularly South Asian English, an older man may also be addressed familiarly as an uncle, expressing respect or social familiarity rather than indicating an actual family relationship.
Easily confused with uncle
An uncle is a family member, whereas an ankle is the joint connecting the foot to the lower leg.