I need help from native speakers

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ESL forum > Ask for help > I need help from native speakers

I need help from native speakers

miss noor

I need help from native speakers

Hi,

I have a question

The word uncle means :

un�cle [ �ngk �l ] (plural un�cles)

noun

Definition:

1. parent �s brother or brother-in-law: the brother of somebody �s mother or father, or the husband of somebody �s aunt

Can u tell what do you use to specify the person ?

For example, my uncle visited me. ( Is he your father �s or mother �s brother ? )

In Arabic Language there are 2 words.

A word means mother �s brother and one means father �s brother.

The same things with the words : cousins and aunts .

thanks a lot in advance,

Noor

7 Apr 2010

lshorton99

English doesn �t have different words which specify. We would say �My uncle on my mother �s side � or �My aunt on my father �s side � etc. Basically the noun + my mother �s/father �s side.

7 Apr 2010

yanogator

Unfortunately, our words for relatives are sometimes not very specific. We have one word each for uncle, aunt and cousin (and even with cousin you don �t know if it �s a male or female cousin). Also, I have two grandfathers, but one word, and two grandmothers, but one word. For a language with so many words, we fall short sometimes!

Bruce

7 Apr 2010

honey76

In everyday speech you can only indicate the side of the family that he belongs to, by adding an additional phrase to explain the relation.

In a scientific or medical text you might be able to say that he is your paternal or maternal uncle.

Hope I �ve been of help.

Angela

8 Apr 2010

Jayho

Hi Miss Noor

Yes we just say uncle. In fact, many people don �t enquire whether it�s an uncle on your mother�s or father�s side. It�s a given that it is a male relative of some sort.

An uncle generally can be anyone who is your parent�s brother or siblings brother and you refer to them using their first name e.g. Uncle Bob, Uncle David I�m going to visit my uncle [first name] . Hi Uncle [first name].

Cheers

Jayho

8 Apr 2010

PhilipR

Fortunately for language learners, English keeps it quite simple when it comes to relatives. There is only one word for uncle, aunt, cousin, grandmother, grandfather, brother & sister (older or younger) etc, whereas many (Asian) languages have different words for these.

If it �s really needed, you can always ask for clarification, but like Jayho said, but people hardly ever do.

8 Apr 2010