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Men always talk about the most important things to perfect strangers. In the perfect stranger we perceive man himself; the image of a God is not disguised by resemblances to an uncle or doubts of wisdom of a mustache.
Gilbert K. Chesterton

Meaning of "uncle" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD UNCLE

From Old French oncle, from Latin avunculus; related to Latin avus grandfather.
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Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.
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PRONUNCIATION OF UNCLE

uncle  [ˈʌŋkəl] play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF UNCLE

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Uncle is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES UNCLE MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Uncle

Uncle is a family relationship or kinship, between a person and his or her parent's brother or parent's brother-in-law. A biological uncle is a second degree relative and shares 25% genetic overlap. A great-uncle is the brother or brother-in-law of one's grandparent. Look up great-uncle in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. A woman with an equivalent relationship is an aunt, and the reciprocal relationship is that of a nephew or niece. In some cultures and families, children may refer to the cousins of their parents as "aunt" or "uncle". It is also a title of respect for elders. See fictive kinship. Also in some cultures, like Slavic or Persian cultures, no single inclusive term describing both a person's kinship to their parental male sibling or parental male in-law exists. Instead there are specific terms describing a person's kinship to their mother's brother or a person's kinship to their father's brother. An analogous differentiation exists in modern Persian using separate terms to describe a person's kinship to their mother's female sibling, and a person's kinship to their father's female sibling.

Definition of uncle in the English dictionary

The first definition of uncle in the dictionary is a brother of one's father or mother. Other definition of uncle is the husband of one's aunt. Uncle is also a term of address sometimes used by children for a male friend of their parents.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH UNCLE


ankle
ˈæŋkəl
antiwrinkle
ˈæntɪˈrɪŋkəl
carbuncle
ˈkɑːˌbʌŋkəl
conchal
ˈkɒŋkəl
crinkle
ˈkrɪŋkəl
furuncle
ˈfjʊərʌŋkəl
granduncle
ˈɡrændˌʌŋkəl
homuncle
həʊˈmʌŋkəl
inkle
ˈɪŋkəl
nuncle
ˈnʌŋkəl
peduncle
pɪˈdʌŋkəl
periwinkle
ˈpɛrɪˌwɪŋkəl
rankle
ˈræŋkəl
sprinkle
ˈsprɪŋkəl
tinkle
ˈtɪŋkəl
truncal
ˈtrʌŋkəl
twinkle
ˈtwɪŋkəl
vibratiuncle
vaɪˌbreɪʃɪˈʌŋkəl
winkle
ˈwɪŋkəl
wrinkle
ˈrɪŋkəl

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE UNCLE

unclawed
Uncle Sam
Uncle Tom
Uncle Tomism
uncle-ji
unclean
uncleaned
uncleanliness
uncleanly
uncleanness
uncleansed
unclear
uncleared
unclearly
unclearness
uncleft
unclench
unclerical
uncleship
unclew

WORDS THAT END LIKE UNCLE

agony uncle
article
bicycle
Bob´s your uncle
caruncle
chronicle
circle
cycle
Dutch uncle
great-uncle
miracle
motor vehicle
motorcycle
muscle
oracle
particle
recycle
siphuncle
spectacle
vehicle

Synonyms and antonyms of uncle in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

Translation of «uncle» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF UNCLE

Find out the translation of uncle to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of uncle from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «uncle» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

叔叔或舅舅
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

tío
570 millions of speakers

English

uncle
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

चाचा
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

عَمٌّ أو خَال
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

дядя
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

tio
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

চাচা
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

oncle
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Bapa saudara
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

Onkel
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

おじ
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

외삼촌
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Paman
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

bác
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

மாமா
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

काका
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

amca dayı
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

zio
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

wujek
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

дядько
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

unchi
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

θείος
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

oom
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

farbror
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

onkel
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of uncle

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «UNCLE»

The term «uncle» is very widely used and occupies the 7.752 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Very widely used
97
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «uncle» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of uncle
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «uncle».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «UNCLE» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «uncle» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «uncle» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about uncle

EXAMPLES

10 QUOTES WITH «UNCLE»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word uncle.
1
Chris Abani
My grand uncle was a traditional priest, and he would always say to me as a kid, 'We stand in our own light,' which essentially for him meant we were entirely responsible for a lot of what happens to us and for the ways in which our lives play out.
2
Christopher Abbott
I loved movies growing up. I went to the movies with my uncle all the time. But being an actor? I didn't even think about it until I was about twenty years old. I took a class at the college I was at. I don't know why - I just wanted to take a class, and I kind of fell in love with it there.
3
David Amram
I learned from my uncle that jazz, like symphony music, was built to last.
4
Dusty Baker
You can tell your uncle stuff that you could not tell your dad. That is kind of the role of an uncle. I feel very much like a father sometimes but sometimes I feel like a teammate.
5
Catherine Bell
I think my uncle was probably the biggest influence in my life. We grew up in the same house, and he was just a really great, hard-working, honest, ethical person.
6
Alvah Bessie
Maybe! Maybe! Maybe if your aunt had a beard, she'd be your uncle.
7
Chris Burke
Being a son, brother, uncle and brother-in-law is all I care about.
8
Barbara Castle
He described how, as a boy of 14, his dad had been down the mining pit, his uncle had been down the pit, his brother had been down the pit, and of course he would go down the pit.
9
Gilbert K. Chesterton
Men always talk about the most important things to perfect strangers. In the perfect stranger we perceive man himself; the image of a God is not disguised by resemblances to an uncle or doubts of wisdom of a mustache.
10
Ethan Coen
I have never had feeling in my toes. My uncle, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, once told me in confidence he had the same syndrome, leading me to believe it is genetic.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «UNCLE»

Discover the use of uncle in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to uncle and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Her questions remain penetrating even today: "Can man ever be trusted with wholly irresponsible power?" First published more than 150 years ago, this monumental work is today being reexamined by critics, scholars, and students.
Harriet Beecher Stowe, Mary R. Reichardt, Joseph Pearce, 2009
2
Uncle Shelby'S Abz Book
Writing for an adult audience, the popular children's book author presents a humorous satire of alphabet books.
Shel Silverstein, 1985
3
Uncle Al Capone: The Untold Story from Inside His Family
The untold story from inside his family. Dramatic, unyielding, and provocative, Uncle Al Capone by Deirdre Marie Capone, Al Capone's grandniece, is a fascinating memoir and engaging biography.
Deirdre Marie Capone, 2010
4
Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood
‘If you did not think that gallium and iridium could move you, this superb book will change your mind’ The Times In Uncle Tungsten Sacks evokes, with warmth and wit, his upbringing in wartime England.
Oliver Sacks, 2011
5
Uncle Tom Mania: Slavery, Minstrelsy, and Transatlantic ...
Tom-Mania looks at the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin and the songs, plays, sketches, translations and imitations it inspired.
Sarah Meer, 2005
6
Uncle Buddy
"... biographical sketch of the man who has become known around the world simply as "Uncle Buddy."--back cover.
Tony R. Woods, 2004
7
Uncle Tom's Cabin and the Abolitionist Movement
Traces the process and influences behind the writing of Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, which was published when the nation was torn over the issue of slavery and headed toward Civil War.
Julie Carlson, 2004
8
Uncle Jed's Barber Shop
As the only black barber in a county of sharecroppers during the 1920s, Uncle Jed traveled for miles to tend to his customers.
Margaree King Mitchell, 2011
9
Uncle Wiggily's Adventures
Oh, I believe I stepped on a tack! Sammie Littletail must have left it there! How careless of him!" You see this was the same Uncle Wiggily, of whom I have told you in the Bedtime Books - the very same Uncle Wiggily.
Howard R. Garis, 2005
10
Uncle Sam Wants You : World War I and the Making of the ...
Uncle Sam Wants You tells the gripping story of the American homefront in World War I, revealing how the tensions of mass mobilization led to a significant increase in power in Washington.
Christopher Capozzola Associate Professor of History Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2008

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «UNCLE»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term uncle is used in the context of the following news items.
1
Uncle Jesse, Aunt Becky Are Together Again: John Stamos Shares …
Lori Loughlin and John Stamos John Stamos (Uncle Jesse) and his TV wife Lori Loughlin (Aunt Becky) are reuniting on Fuller House. Credit: Tiffany Rose/ ... «Us Magazine, Jul 15»
2
John Stamos shares photo from set of 'Fuller House,' still looks like …
Uncle Jesse is back at it. John Stamos shared a picture of himself holding a "Fuller House" script onset of the new Netflix show on Saturday. "Same sideburns- ... «New York Daily News, Jul 15»
3
Chattanooga gunman's uncle 'arbitrarily arrested' in Jordan, lawyer …
The gunman's maternal uncle, Asaad Haj Ali, who holds an American ... year with his uncle in Jordan, where he worked for his private company in the country. «The Guardian, Jul 15»
4
Meet the women from 'UNCLE'
This photo provided by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Elizabeth Debicki as Victoria in Warner Bros. Pictures' action adventure “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” a ... «Washington Times, Jul 15»
5
Mother and uncle of boy fatally beaten over birthday cake are …
HAGERSTOWN, Md. – The mother and uncle of a 9-year-old boy who police say was fatally beaten over a missing birthday cake have been ordered held ... «Fox News, Jul 15»
6
Fans Visiting the 'Full House' House Miss Uncle Jesse Standing …
Pretty much everyone who was alive in the '90s watched Full House. To this day, fans like to visit the iconic San Francisco row house that served as the Tanner ... «Entertainment Tonight, Mar 15»
7
The First Man From UNCLE Trailer Spies Hard
With Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, Jared Harris and Hugh Grant along for the ride, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is out on August 14. And we got through that ... «Empire Online, Feb 15»
8
Uncle left 9-year-old twins home alone for months, officials say
(CNN) A pair of 9-year-olds in New Hampshire who were left alone for days at a time over five months in their family's apartment with just ramen noodles to eat ... «CNN, Jan 15»
9
Baby Found in Dumpster After Mom, Dad and Uncle Shot
The baby's mother, father and uncle were taken to the hospital in critical condition. The father had been released by Sunday, officials said. “Although little is ... «TIME, Jan 15»
10
North Korean linked to Kim Jong-un's purged uncle 'goes missing' in …
The son of an aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's uncle has gone missing in Paris, sparking speculation that secret agents tried to kidnap him to spirit ... «Telegraph.co.uk, Nov 14»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Uncle [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/uncle>. Jun 2026 ».
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