French word

tonton

Pronunciation

IPA/tɔ̃tɔ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine noununcle

Example

Mon tonton vient ce week-end.

My uncle is coming this weekend.

Illustration for tonton (uncle)

More examples

Mon tonton raconte toujours des histoires drôles.

My uncle always tells amusing stories.

Core concept

A trusted older male addressed as family by affection rather than necessarily by kinship.

Common phrases

  • mon tonton

    my uncle

  • chez tonton

    at my uncle's place

  • mon tonton préféré

    my favorite uncle

Similar words

oncle: A general term for an uncle used in various situations.
tata: A casual term used by children or close acquaintances for an aunt or older woman.
papi: A familiar, informal term for a grandfather used at home.

Definition in French

Forme familière et affectueuse du mot « oncle », employée aussi pour un homme plus âgé proche de la famille ou un ami considéré comme intime.

Word origin

The noun tonton comes from the familiar child-language reshaping of oncle and is now used for both actual uncles and some close older men.

Usage tips

  • Tonton can describe a close older family friend, but using it for an unfamiliar man can sound overly intimate.

Opposites

Word lists with this word