uncle
pronunciation
How to pronounce uncle in British English:
UK [ˈʌŋkl]
How to pronounce uncle in American English:
US [ˈʌŋkl]
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- Noun:
- the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
- a source of help and advice and encouragement
Word Origin
- uncle
- uncle: [13] Uncle comes via Anglo-Norman uncle and late Latin aunculus from Latin avunculus ‘mother’s brother, maternal uncle’ (source also of English avuncular [19]). This was a diminutive noun derived from the prehistoric base *aw- ‘grandparent’, and it has relatives in Latin avus ‘grandfather’, Welsh ewythr ‘uncle’, Polish wuj ‘uncle’, Armenian hav ‘uncle’, etc.=> avuncular
- uncle (n.)
- late 13c., from Old French oncle, from Latin avunculus "mother's brother" ("father's brother" was patruus), literally "little grandfather," diminutive of avus "grandfather," from PIE root *awo- "grandfather, adult male relative other than one's father" (cognates: Armenian hav "grandfather," Lithuanian avynas "maternal uncle," Old Church Slavonic uji "uncle," Welsh ewythr "uncle"). Replaced Old English eam (usually maternal; paternal uncle was fædera), which represents the Germanic form of the root (cognates: Dutch oom, Old High German oheim "maternal uncle," German Ohm "uncle"). Also from French are German, Danish, Swedish onkel. As a familiar title of address to an old man, attested by 1793; in the U.S. South, especially "a kindly title for a worthy old negro" [Century Dictionary]. First record of Dutch uncle (and his blunt, stern, benevolent advice) is from 1838; Welsh uncle (1747) was the male first cousin of one's parent. To say uncle as a sign of submission in a fight is North American, attested from 1909, of uncertain signification.
Antonym
Example
- 1. He knows his uncle jeremy through stories .
- 2. But uncle ben ...... I have proof !
- 3. Colombia is uncle sam 's closest south american ally .
- 4. Suzuki lived across the street from her uncle .
- 5. Harry heard uncle vernon cough .