Mon oncle
The English phrase "my uncle" is translated into French as Mon oncle.
The phrase is used to refer to the brother of one's father or mother. If you wish to be more specific about which side of the family the uncle belongs to, you can use mon oncle paternel for a paternal uncle or mon oncle maternel for a maternal uncle.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of mon, meaning "my" and oncle, meaning "uncle".
How does it change in a sentence?
The possessive adjective mon is used because oncle is a masculine singular noun.
What mistakes should you avoid?
When referring to a female aunt, do not use mon tante. You must use ma tante instead.
Did you know?
- French speakers often use the affectionate diminutive tonton instead of mon oncle when speaking to or about their uncle.
- In many French-speaking cultures, calling someone mon oncle might actually be a way to show respect to an older man who is not a blood relative. It is common in some regions to use kinship terms as honorifics for elders.
- In French, oncle is the general term, but the Latin root avunculus specifically referred to the mother's brother.
Examples in context
- Sami est mon oncle.Sami is my uncle.This sentence is useful for identifying who someone is.Tatoeba #9079845 by simias, translation #7144730 by OsoHombre
- J'habite avec mon oncle.I am living with my uncle.This sentence is useful for describing living arrangements.Tatoeba #6340 by qdii, translation #258533 by CC
- Je reste avec mon oncle.I am staying with my uncle.This sentence is useful for describing where one is staying.Tatoeba #6877085 by Micsmithel, translation #253232 by CK
- Salut, mon tonton! Comment ça va aujourd'hui?Hi, my uncle! How are you doing today?
- 157 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo is showing a photo to Léa.
- HugoRegarde, c'est mon oncle sur cette photo.Look, this is my uncle in this photo.
- LéaIl a l'air très gentil !He looks very kind!
- HugoOui, mon oncle est vraiment drôle.Yes, my uncle is really funny.
- LéaIl habite dans quelle ville ?Which city does he live in?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mon, oncle, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
