tio
/ˈt͡ʃi.u/masculine
The Portuguese word for uncle is tio.
The term tio is used to refer to the brother or brother-in-law of someone's parent.
Meaning: brother (or brother-in-law) of someone’s parent (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, the term Tio-avô is sometimes used to refer to a great-uncle.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of uncle is tia. For the masculine plural, tios can refer to a group of uncles or a mixed group of uncles and aunts. The feminine plural form tias refers specifically to a group of aunts. When referring to one uncle and one aunt together, the masculine plural form tios is often used to encompass both.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈtʃi.u/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word tio shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'theology', as both derive from the Ancient Greek word for 'god' or 'divine'.
- In some Brazilian urban slang, tio can be used as a slightly mocking term for someone who is out of touch or behaving like an old person.
- In Brazil, it is very common to call close family friends tio or tia to show respect and intimacy, even if there is no blood relation.
Examples in context
- Ele é meu tio.He is my uncle.This sentence shows how to use tio to state a relationship.Tatoeba #1213940 by alexmarcelo, translation #297898 by CK
- Tom é teu tio.Tom is your uncle.This sentence demonstrates the use of tio in a sentence about someone else.Tatoeba #4258444 by ajdavidl, translation #2273652 by CK
- Meu tio é rico.My uncle is rich.This sentence uses tio to describe a characteristic of an uncle.Tatoeba #996196 by alexmarcelo, translation #1388690 by Spamster
- Oi, Tio! Como você está?Hello, uncle! How are you?
- 170 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felipe and Mariana are talking about a family gathering.
- FelipeO seu tio vem para o jantar?Is your uncle coming to dinner?
- MarianaSim, o meu tio vem com a minha tia.Yes, my uncle is coming with my aunt.
- FelipeQue bom que o seu tio vai estar presente.It's good that your uncle will be present.
- MarianaEle está muito animado para nos ver.He is very excited to see us.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “uncle” translations and entries tio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
