Uncle: definition, kinship relationships, cultural roles and honorary usage

Kinship and names

When describing relationships, common English words identify the possible directions of kinship:

• A person who is the brother of a parent is called an uncle. The children of an uncle are his children and, to the person who is their relative, those children are cousins.
• The child of an uncle may be a nephew (if male) or a niece (if female).
• The sibling of a grandparent—the brother of your grandmother or grandfather—is commonly called a granduncle, great‑uncle, or grand‑uncle.

Cultural distinctions

Many languages and cultures distinguish between an uncle on the mother's side and an uncle on the father's side (often called maternal uncle and paternal uncle). In some societies these two roles carry different social expectations or forms of address.

In certain traditional settings, for example within some historical Chinese family systems, older male relatives such as uncles could exercise considerable authority in a household. The precise status of an uncle varies widely between cultures and over time.

Non‑biological use

The word uncle is also frequently used as a form of address for men who are not blood relatives — as a mark of affection, respect, or familiarity. Well‑known examples of this figurative usage include nicknames and personifications such as Uncle Sam.