French · People & Family
"Uncle" in French: oncle
l'oncle
Uncle in French is l'oncle, masculine, with elision : mon oncle, mon oncle Paul. Tonton is the affectionate nickname kids use.
Introducing family
Mon oncle arrive ce soir.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce oncle
Say it
lohnkl
/ɔ̃kl/
Lohnkl. Nasal on, clear k sound. Mon oncle: mohn-ohnkl with liaison feel.
"Uncle" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| l'oncle | the uncle With elision. | With elision. |
| mon oncle | my uncle Possession. | Possession. |
| tonton | uncle (affectionate) Kids' word. | Kids' word. |
| oncle maternel | maternal uncle Mother's side. | Mother's side. |
How to use oncle in real life
- 1Introducing family
Mon oncle arrive ce soir.
My uncle is arriving tonight.
Mon oncle.
- 2Photo album
L'oncle à gauche est photographe.
The uncle on the left is a photographer.
L'oncle.
- 3Kids shouting
Oncle Paul, montre le tour de magie !
Uncle Paul, show the magic trick!
Oncle as a direct address; kids may say tonton instead.
Mistakes English speakers make with oncle
Incorrect: Le oncle est là.
Correct: L'oncle est là.
Elision: l'oncle.
Incorrect: Ma oncle habite à Nice.
Correct: Mon oncle habite à Nice.
Oncle is masculine: mon oncle.
Good to know
French families often keep close uncle/aunt ties for holidays. Kids switch to tonton quickly ; adults usually stay with mon oncle.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Waiting at the station for family
ChatPal
Ton oncle prend quel train ?
Which train is your uncle on?
You
Le 18 h 10. Mon oncle déteste être en retard.
The 6:10. My uncle hates being late.
ChatPal
On attend l'oncle sous l'horloge.
We'll wait for uncle under the clock.
You
Oui, il nous verra.
Yes, he'll see us.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Uncle" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Uncle" in French
Why l'oncle?
Oncle starts with a vowel sound, so le becomes l'.
What is tonton?
Affectionate kids' word for uncle.
How do I say my uncle?
Mon oncle.
How do you pronounce oncle?
Ohnkl.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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