How to Say “Aunt and Uncle” in German

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Tante und Onkel
/ˈtantə ʊnt ˈɔŋkəl/word by word
The English phrase "aunt and uncle" is translated into German as Tante und Onkel.
This phrase is used to refer to the sister of one's parent and the brother of one's parent.

How do you pronounce it?

/ˈtantə ʊnt ˈɔŋkəl/

Did you know?

  • In Germany, it is common to use Tante or Onkel as a friendly title for close family friends who are not actually related by blood.
  • The German words Tante and Onkel are actually 'loanwords' from French, rather than being original Germanic words.
  • While Tante describes a parent's sister, the term Tanten can also be used in older slang to describe an older, fussy woman.

Examples in context

  • Meine Tante und Onkel wohnen in Berlin.
    My aunt and uncle live in Berlin.
  • Ich besuche meine Tante und Onkel heute.
    I am visiting my aunt and uncle today.
  • Sind deine Tante und Onkel nett?
    Are your aunt and uncle nice?

Example conversation

Sarah and Julian are talking about their upcoming holiday plans.

  1. Sarah

    Fliegst du in den Sommerurlaub?
    Are you flying away for summer vacation?
  2. Julian

    Ja, ich besuche meine Tante und Onkel.
    Yes, I am visiting my aunt and uncle.
  3. Sarah

    Wo wohnen sie eigentlich?
    Where do they actually live?
  4. Julian

    Sie leben in einem kleinen Dorf in Italien.
    They live in a small village in Italy.

Sources

  • IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (Tante, und, Onkel) and can differ in connected speech.
  • Word origins: Wiktionary entries Onkel, Tante, und, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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Lucille Rosie
Lucille RosieHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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