German word

Onkel

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈɔŋkl̩/

Meaning

  • masculine noununcle

Example

Mein Onkel kommt morgen.

My uncle is coming tomorrow.

Illustration for Onkel (uncle)

More examples

Sein Onkel gab ihm wertvolle Ratschläge.

His uncle gave him valuable advice.

Core concept

A familiar male figure in the family generation above the speaker, connected through a parent.

Common phrases

  • der Onkel meiner Mutter

    my mother's uncle

  • bei meinem Onkel und meiner Tante

    at my uncle's and aunt's place

Similar words

Tante: A woman who is the sister of one of a person's parents.
Vater: The male parent of a person.
Bruder: A man who shares at least one parent with another person.
Cousin: A man whose parent is a sibling of one of a person's parents.

Definition in German

Männlicher Verwandter, meist der Bruder eines Elternteils oder ein vergleichbarer älterer Verwandter.

Word origin

German Onkel came through French oncle from Latin avunculus, which originally meant a mother's brother before German broadened the sense.

Usage tips

  • Onkel is masculine, and its plural is also Onkel, so the article distinguishes der Onkel from die Onkel.

Opposites

Related words

  • Großonkelgreat-unclenoun

Word lists with this word