Where does “uncle” come from?
Uncle comes from Middle English uncle, from Old French oncle, from Vulgar Latin aunclum, from Latin avunculus, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂éwh₂os.
uncle (English): The brother or brother-in-law of one’s parent;...
Definitions
- The brother or brother-in-law of one’s parent;...
Ancestry of “uncle”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | uncle | — |
| 2 | Old French | uncle | Alternative form of oncle |
| 3 | Latin | avunculus | maternal uncle, mother's brother; mother's... |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂éwh₂os | maternal grandfather; maternal uncle |
Words derived from “uncle”