uncle

uncle — noun

1. a man who is the brother of one of your parents, or who is married to one of you

1.nounA2
Definition

a man who is the brother of one of your parents, or who is married to one of your aunts

Example

Every Sunday, our family gathers at Grandma's house and Uncle Tunde brings his famous pie.

title pattern: Uncle + first name

My uncle in Tokyo sends me a birthday card every year.

Common collocations
  • maternal uncle
  • paternal uncle
  • great-uncle
  • uncle by marriage
  • favourite uncle
Synonyms
  • relative

    a broader term covering all family members; less specific than 'uncle'

  • kinsman

    formal or old-fashioned; refers to any male blood relative

Antonyms
  • aunt

    the female equivalent — sister of one's parent or wife of one's uncle

Grammar Patterns

possessive + uncle

Uncle + first name

Usage Note

Countable noun. English does not distinguish between a father's brother and a mother's brother — both are called 'uncle', unlike Chinese which uses different terms such as 叔叔 and 舅舅. Frequently used with a possessive determiner (my uncle, her uncle) or as a title before a first name (Uncle Tunde).

Common Mistakes

My uncle (mother's brother) is called 叔叔 in Chinese.
My uncle (mother's brother) is called 舅舅 in Chinese.
Chinese distinguishes maternal uncles (舅舅) from paternal uncles (叔叔 or 伯父), but English uses 'uncle' for both.

2. a friendly label a child gives to any grown man the family knows well, like a ne

2.nounB1
Definition

a friendly label a child gives to any grown man the family knows well, like a neighbour or a parent's old friend

Example

Uncle Theo from next door always helps me carry my school bag.

address form for a non-relative neighbour

Can you ask Uncle Imran if he wants to join us for dinner?

Common collocations
  • Uncle + first name
  • call someone uncle
  • be like an uncle to
Synonyms
  • sir

    more formal; does not require a personal relationship

  • old-timer

    informal and affectionate; implies advanced age rather than a specific family-like role

Grammar Patterns

Uncle + first name

call [someone] uncle

Usage Note

Mainly used by children or adults speaking to children. The title 'Uncle' is followed by the person's first name, not their surname. This usage implies a warm, familiar relationship rather than a formal one. Less common in professional or school settings.

Common Mistakes

I call my teacher Uncle Wang.
I call my neighbour Uncle Wang.
'Uncle' as a title is used for family friends and neighbours, not for teachers or people in formal positions.

3. an older man who provides help, guidance, and emotional support, especially when

3.nounB2
Definition

an older man who provides help, guidance, and emotional support, especially when the person does not have a father figure in their life

Example

The old librarian became an uncle to the children at the shelter.

figurative: became an uncle to [group]

For many young players, Coach Sivan was an uncle they could trust.

metaphor: uncle they could trust

Common collocations
  • a wise uncle
  • be an uncle to
  • become an uncle to
  • trusted uncle
Synonyms
  • mentor

    focuses on teaching and professional guidance; less emotional than 'uncle' in this sense

  • father figure

    implies a stronger parental role; more emotionally intense

  • guardian

    implies legal responsibility; more formal

Grammar Patterns

become an uncle to [someone]

be an uncle to [someone]

a wise uncle

Usage Note

Used figuratively to describe a supportive older male who is not a blood relative. Often appears in the pattern 'be an uncle to [someone]' or 'become an uncle to [someone]'. This sense carries a warm, affectionate tone and implies long-term trust.

Idioms

Uncle Sam

idiom

a personification of the government of the United States, usually shown as a tall, thin man with a white beard and a top hat

Uncle Sam expects every citizen to pay their taxes before the April deadline.

Bob's your uncle

idiom

used in British English to say that a task is easy to complete or that a result follows naturally from a simple set of steps

Just add water, stir the mixture, and Bob's your uncle — a delicious soup in minutes!

Bob’s your uncle

idiom

It is used to show that something is very simple to do or finish.

Just add water, stir, and Bob's your uncle — soup is ready.

You plug in the cable, click install, and Bob's your uncle — it works.

Word family

  • great-uncle
    nounB2
  • uncle-like
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Uncle' refers to a specific family relationship — the brother of one's parent or the husband of one's aunt. 'Relative' is a much broader term that covers any person connected by blood or marriage, regardless of gender or generation. 'Aunt' is the female equivalent of 'uncle', referring to the sister of one's parent or the wife of one's uncle. 'Nephew' is the opposite relationship from 'uncle' — your uncle is the brother of your parent, while you are that uncle's nephew or niece. 'Cousin' refers to a person in the same generation as you (the child of your aunt or uncle), whereas your uncle is always one generation above you. For example: 'Uncle Tom is my father's younger brother, so his son Kevin is my cousin — not my uncle, because we are in the same generation.'

relative ↗nephew ↗aunt ↗cousin ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • my uncle
  • your uncle
  • his uncle
  • her uncle
  • our uncle
  • their uncle

Phrases

  • as an uncle
  • like an uncle

Prepositions

  • uncle of
  • uncle to

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'uncle' came into English from Old French 'oncle', which itself came from the Latin 'avunculus', meaning 'mother's brother'. The Latin word is a diminutive form of 'avus' (grandfather), so it literally meant 'little grandfather'. Over time, the meaning expanded in English to include the brothers of both parents and the husbands of aunts, losing the original distinction between the mother's side and the father's side.