Uncle in different languages

Uncle in Different Languages

Discover 'Uncle' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

Uncle, a word that signifies a special bond, holds cultural importance in many societies. It goes beyond just a family title, often symbolizing respect, care, and wisdom. The significance of an uncle can be traced back to historical contexts, where they played crucial roles in familial and societal structures.

Interestingly, the word 'uncle' translates differently across languages, reflecting the unique cultural nuances of each society. For instance, in Spanish, 'uncle' is 'tío', in French, it's 'oncle', in German, 'Onkel', in Russian, 'дядя' (dyadya), in Japanese, 'おじいさん' (ojisan), and in Chinese, '叔叔' (shūshu).

Understanding these translations can open up a world of cultural insights. It can help us appreciate the diverse ways in which different societies value familial relationships and the roles that uncles play in these structures.

Uncle


Uncle in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansoom
The word "oom" in Afrikaans can also be used to refer to a respected older man, not necessarily a biological uncle.
Amharicአጎት
In Amharic, "አጎት" also denotes "uncle" or "male sibling of one's parent".
Hausakawu
The word "kawu" can also mean "older brother" in Hausa.
Igbonwanne nna
In traditional Igbo society, the term "nwanne nna" also had a wider meaning, referring to any paternal relative with whom the speaker shared a close bond.
Malagasyrahalahin-drain'i
The word "rahalahin-drain'i" literally translates to "the one who brings the money" and is also used to refer to a wealthy or important person.
Nyanja (Chichewa)amalume
The word "amalume" in Nyanja can also refer to a brother-in-law or a cousin.
Shonasekuru
The word "sekuru" in Shona also means "grandfather" and is a term of respect for older men.
Somaliadeer
The Somali word 'adeer' is etymologically related to the Arabic word 'amr', meaning 'command' or 'order' and refers to the authority and respect accorded to uncles in Somali culture.
Sesothomalome
In Sesotho, the word "malome" not only refers to an uncle but also signifies admiration and respect for any elderly male beyond one's immediate circle of relatives.
Swahilimjomba
The Swahili word "mjomba" is cognate with the Portuguese word "tio", both deriving from the Latin word "avunculus".
Xhosaumalume
The word "umalume" can also refer to a brother-in-law or a male cousin.
Yorubaaburo
In Yoruba, "aburo" may also refer to a younger sibling or close associate.
Zuluumalume
In Zulu, the word "umalume" has the alternate meaning of "paternal aunt" and is etymologically derived from the Proto-Bantu word *malume* meaning "father's brother".
Bambarabɛnkɛ
Ewenyrui
Kinyarwandanyirarume
Lingalanoko
Lugandakojja
Sepedimalome
Twi (Akan)wɔfa

Uncle in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicاخو الام
In archaic Arabic, "اخو الام" could also mean "mother's father" and "mother's brother".
Hebrewדוֹד
The word "דוֹד" (uncle) in Hebrew can also refer to a beloved or close friend.
Pashtoتره
The word "تره" can also mean "father's brother", "paternal uncle", or "maternal uncle" in Pashto.
Arabicاخو الام
In archaic Arabic, "اخو الام" could also mean "mother's father" and "mother's brother".

Uncle in Western European Languages

Albanianxhaxhai
The word "xhaxhai" in Albanian can also refer to a "paternal relative".
Basqueosaba
In Basque, the word "osaba" also refers to a godfather or a male relative who is not necessarily an uncle.
Catalanoncle
The word «oncle» means «uncle», but may also refer to the father of any of one's parents' siblings.
Croatianujak
In certain Croatian dialects, "ujak" can also mean "father's brother" or "a father's cousin."
Danishonkel
The word
Dutchoom
In Dutch, "oom" can also refer to a paternal uncle, or a non-blood relative like a close friend or trusted advisor.
Englishuncle
The word "uncle" derives from the Latin word "avunculus," meaning maternal uncle.
Frenchoncle
The word "oncle" originated from the Latin word "avunculus", meaning "maternal uncle".
Frisianomke
The Frisian word for 'uncle', 'omke', is probably derived from the Proto-West-Germanic word *āma, which also meant 'grandfather'.
Galiciantío
The word "tío" in Galician can also refer to an older man, a friend, or a term of endearment.
Germanonkel
The word "Onkel" derives from the Latin word "avunculus" and originally referred to a father's brother.
Icelandicfrændi
The word "frændi" is cognate with the English word "friend," and the two words shared a meaning of "relative" in Old Norse and Old English.
Irishuncail
The Irish word "uncail" is derived from the Old Irish word "oencol" meaning "young one" and is also used as a term of endearment for a child.
Italianzio
"Zio" is a common noun in Italian, meaning "uncle" (maternal or paternal), but can also be used as a term of endearment for a close male friend or mentor.
Luxembourgishmonni
"Monni" also refers to a godfather; the feminine form, "Monnin," refers to a godmother (who should not be confused with the "Groussmamm", that is, one's grandmother).
Malteseziju
The word 'ziju' has an alternative meaning of 'brother-in-law' in Maltese.
Norwegianonkel
The word "onkel" can also refer to a person's godfather or a close male friend.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)tio
Tio also means aunt's husband in Portuguese and is related to the Latin word "tithius," meaning "husband of one's sister."
Scots Gaelicuncail
The word "uncail" is derived from the Irish word "uncail" meaning "a hook" and is distantly related to the English word "uncle".
Spanishtío
"Tío" derives from Latin "avunculus" and meant "maternal uncle" in older Spanish, now replaced by "sobrino".
Swedishfarbror
In Swedish, the term 'farbror' can also refer specifically to one's father's brother or other related males.
Welshewythr
"Ewythr" derives from the Old Welsh word "ewytir" meaning "father's brother, uncle", itself from the Proto-Celtic word "*awi-tiros."

Uncle in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianдзядзька
In some regions of the Belarusian language,
Bosnianujak
"Ujak" was also used in the sense of "host" when addressing foreigners.
Bulgarianчичо
In some regions of Bulgaria, 'чичо' can also refer to a godfather or a male elder who is respected in the community.
Czechstrýc
The word "strýc" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *stryjь, which also meant "father's brother" or "mother's sister's husband".
Estonianonu
The Estonian word “õnu” can also refer to the paternal grandfather, great-grandfather, paternal cousin, brother of the mother, godfather, brother of the spouse or a trusted, older, male friend, not related by blood.
Finnishsetä
The archaic form is "set" but in the modern language the spelling has been changed to "setä" for distinction, to avoid mispronunciation as "set"
Hungariannagybácsi
The word "nagybácsi" in Hungarian also means "great-uncle" and literally translates to "big uncle".
Latvianonkulis
The word "onkulis" also means "husband's brother" in Latvian.
Lithuaniandėdė
The word "dėdė" in Lithuanian can also refer to a godfather, maternal uncle, or male relative who is significantly older than the speaker.
Macedonianчичко
The word "чичко" (uncle) in Macedonian also has alternate meanings, such as "father's younger brother" or a term of endearment for an older man.
Polishwujek
In some regions of Poland, 'wujek' can also refer to a priest.
Romanianunchiule
The Romanian word "unchiule" derives from the Latin "avunculus", meaning "maternal uncle", and also shares a common root with the Slavic word "uj", meaning "father-in-law".
Russianдядя
The word "дядя" can also refer to a godfather or a patron.
Serbianујаче
In Serbian and other Slavic languages and cultures, a "uncle" ('uјак) is traditionally both your father's brother and mother's brother or even your cousin.
Slovakstrýko
The word 'strýko', meaning 'uncle', also shares a root with 'stráž', 'protection', suggesting a paternal role.
Slovenianstric
"Stric" is etymologically related to Latin "stirps" referring to family and ancestors or Proto-Slavic word *stryjь, also denoting paternal uncle
Ukrainianдядько
"Дядько" in Ukrainian can also mean "father's brother" or "grandfather's brother's son" or "wife's brother."

Uncle in South Asian Languages

Bengaliচাচা
The word 'চাচা' also refers to elder brothers of the father or mother as well as elder brothers of any spouse.
Gujaratiકાકા
In Gujarati, "કાકા" (kaka) is related to the Sanskrit word "kākā," which also means "uncle," and "kāku," which means "crow."
Hindiचाचा
In some regions of India, "चाचा" is also used to affectionately address an elder brother, similar to the usage of "uncle" in the West.
Kannadaಚಿಕ್ಕಪ್ಪ
The word "ಚಿಕ್ಕಪ್ಪ" literally translates to "little father" in Kannada, implying a fatherly figure younger than the actual father
Malayalamഅമ്മാവൻ
The word "അമ്മാവൻ" (uncle) in Malayalam is derived from the word "അമ്മ" (mother), and also refers to a relative who is the younger brother of the father.
Marathiकाका
'kaka' also refers to the paternal grandfather and can be a term for elder brothers in some dialects
Nepaliकाका
"काका" is a term of respect for priests in Buddhism, possibly deriving from the Sanskrit word "कक्षक" meaning "armpit".
Punjabiਚਾਚਾ
The word "ਚਾਚਾ" is also often used as a term of endearment for someone who is not actually a blood relative.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)මාමා
The Sinhala word 'මාමා' (mama) can also refer to a paternal cousin or an affectionate term for a male friend.
Tamilமாமா
The word "மாமா" in Tamil can also refer to a term of endearment for a male friend or a male deity.
Teluguమామయ్య
In some Telugu dialects, "మామయ్య" can also refer to the wife's brother's husband or the husband's sister's husband.
Urduچچا
چچا is also used for a maternal uncle in some parts of Pakistan.

Uncle in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)叔叔
叔叔 can be used as a term of address for a man who is unrelated but of similar age and social status as one's father.
Chinese (Traditional)叔叔
叔叔 or 叔 in oracle bone scripts was also a title for people of a certain age or virtue
Japaneseおじさん
The word "おじさん" can also mean "a strange man" or "an old man".
Korean삼촌
The word "삼촌" can also refer to a close friend or mentor who is older than the speaker.
Mongolianавга ах
The word "авга ах" could also refer to a husband or brother-in-law.
Myanmar (Burmese)ဦး လေး
"ဦး လေး" is often used to mean "Mr" in formal situations when referring to older men but can also be employed as a friendly or casual term of endearment between close companions regardless of relative seniority or age gap

Uncle in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianpaman
The word "paman" can also refer to a man who is not related to the speaker but is respected as an elder.
Javanesepaman
In some areas of Java, 'paman' can also refer to a maternal grandfather.
Khmerពូ
The word "ពូ" can also refer to a father-in-law or a godfather.
Laoລຸງ
"ລຸງ" is also used to address monks as a sign of respect.
Malaypakcik
Pakcik, a Malay term for 'uncle', may derive from the Sanskrit word 'paksha', meaning 'wing' or 'side', suggesting a sense of close kinship.
Thaiลุง
The word "ลุง" (uncle) in Thai can also refer to an older man who is not necessarily related to you.
Vietnamesechú
The word "Chú" in Vietnamese can also refer to the husband of an older sister.
Filipino (Tagalog)tiyuhin

Uncle in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanidayı
The word
Kazakhағай
"Ағай" means "brother's elder son" or "husband of sister's elder sister".
Kyrgyzбайке
In Kyrgyz, "байке" can have meanings like "teacher," "master," "mentor," or a title for someone with authority or experience.
Tajikамак
In Tajik, the word "амак" has an alternate meaning of "respected elder brother" and is also used as a term of address for a respected older man, even if he is not related.
Turkmendaýy
Uzbektog'a
The Uzbek word "tog'a" can also mean "father's brother" or "mother's sister's husband"
Uyghurتاغىسى

Uncle in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianʻanakala
In Hawaiian, ʻanakala also refers to a male cousin or nephew.
Maorimatua keke
In Maori culture, the term "matua keke" also carries a broader connotation, encompassing respected male elders who play a guiding role in the community.
Samoantuagane o le aiga
The Samoan word "tuagane o le aiga" is also used to refer to paternal aunts, as aunts and uncles are not distinguished by gender.
Tagalog (Filipino)tiyuhin
The word "tiyuhin", when used for a woman, carries the shade of the woman being the aunt of somebody, not just the niece.

Uncle in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaratiyu
Guaranipehẽngue

Uncle in International Languages

Esperantoonklo
Onkl is derived from okcidenta meaning western or west to indicate that the uncle’s house is usually to one or both of the children the next house west.
Latinavunculus
The Latin word "avunculus" originally referred to the maternal uncle and later came to mean any paternal or maternal uncle.

Uncle in Others Languages

Greekθείος
"Θείος" is also an archaic form of the word "θεός" meaning "god".
Hmongtxiv ntxawm
The word "txiv ntxawm" can also refer to younger members of the father's clan, even distant cousins, or to close friends of the father.
Kurdishmam
In some Kurdish dialects, "mam" can also mean "father's brother" or "mother's husband".
Turkishamca dayı
In Turkish, "amca dayı" originally meant "father's brother" and "mother's brother," but over time it expanded to include other relatives and even non-relatives as a term of respect and affection.
Xhosaumalume
The word "umalume" can also refer to a brother-in-law or a male cousin.
Yiddishפעטער
The Yiddish word "פעטער" ("uncle") may also refer to a paternal aunt or a term of endearment for a friend.
Zuluumalume
In Zulu, the word "umalume" has the alternate meaning of "paternal aunt" and is etymologically derived from the Proto-Bantu word *malume* meaning "father's brother".
Assameseখুড়া
Aymaratiyu
Bhojpuriकाका
Dhivehiބޮޑު ބޭބެ
Dogriचाचा
Filipino (Tagalog)tiyuhin
Guaranipehẽngue
Ilocanoangkal
Krioɔnkul
Kurdish (Sorani)مام
Maithiliकका जी
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯈꯨꯔꯥ
Mizoputea
Oromoeessuma
Odia (Oriya)ମାମୁଁ
Quechuatio
Sanskritपितृव्यः
Tatarабзый
Tigrinyaኣኮ
Tsongamalume

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