uncle

Where does the word "uncle" come from? It comes from Latin avunculus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Uncle’s story begins in Latin: avunculus meant “a mother's brother.” Literally a little grandfather, a diminutive of avus (grandfather), meaning a mother's brother. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as oncle. Carried into French and broadened to mean any parent's brother. It reached English by 1300s as uncle. Settled as the English word for a parent's brother. Today, uncle means the brother of one's father or mother, or the husband of one's aunt.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient avunculus "a mother's brother", literally a little grandfather, a diminutive of avus (grandfather), meaning a mother's brother.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval oncle "a parent's brother", carried into French and broadened to mean any parent's brother.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s uncle "the brother of one's parent", settled as the English word for a parent's brother.