uncle
UK: ˈʌŋkl | US: ˈʌŋkl
n. the brother of one’s father or mother
n. the husband of one’s aunt
n. (informal) a term of address for an older male friend or mentor
The word "uncle" traces back to the Latin avunculus, meaning "maternal uncle," derived from avus (grandfather) with a diminutive suffix -unculus. In Old French, it became oncle, which entered Middle English as uncle. The term originally distinguished maternal uncles (avunculus) from paternal uncles (patruus in Latin), but this distinction faded in English. The morpheme un- here is not the negating prefix but a remnant of the Latin root. Over time, "uncle" generalized to include both paternal and maternal uncles, as well as aunts' husbands.
My uncle taught me how to fish when I was a child.
She visits her uncle every summer in Scotland.
"Uncle Jack is coming for dinner tonight," Mom announced.
In some cultures, the term "uncle" is used respectfully for elder male neighbors.
He played the role of a wise uncle in the movie.