Portuguese · People & Family
"Uncle" in Portuguese: tio
o tio
Uncle in Portuguese is o tio. Plural tios can mean uncles or aunt-and-uncle pairs. Kids also call close family friends tio.
Family party
Meu tio chega sempre com histórias longas.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce tio
Say it
CHEE-oo
/ˈtʃio/
CHEE-oo — Brazilian t before i often sounds like ch.
"Uncle" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| o tio | the uncle Default noun. | Default noun. |
| meus tios | my uncles / my aunt and uncle Plural family. | Plural family. |
| tio-avô | great-uncle Extended family. | Extended family. |
| oi, tio | hi, uncle Addressing him. | Addressing him. |
How to use tio in real life
- 1Family party
Meu tio chega sempre com histórias longas.
My uncle always arrives with long stories.
Meu tio possessive.
- 2Phone call
Alô, tio? Estou na porta do prédio.
Hello, uncle? I'm at the building door.
Tio as address.
- 3Travel plans
Vamos ficar na casa do tio em Minas.
We're staying at uncle's house in Minas.
Casa do tio.
Mistakes English speakers make with tio
Incorrect: A tio é engraçado.
Correct: O tio é engraçado.
Tio is masculine: o tio.
Incorrect: Meu uncle mora perto.
Correct: Meu tio mora perto.
Use tio, not English uncle.
Good to know
In Brazil tio and tia stretch beyond blood relatives—neighbors and parents' friends may get the title. It feels warm, not confused, in that culture.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Waiting for an uncle at a barbecue
ChatPal
Seu tio já avisou o horário?
Did your uncle already say what time?
You
Avisou. O tio chega com a carne às duas.
He did. Uncle arrives with the meat at two.
ChatPal
Perfeito. Seu tio faz um churrasco lendário.
Perfect. Your uncle makes legendary barbecue.
You
Faz mesmo. Ninguém supera o tio na grelha.
He really does. Nobody beats uncle on the grill.
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 Portuguese
Can tios mean aunt and uncle?
Yes. Meus tios often means that pair.
Do kids call non-relatives tio?
Often yes, as a warm title.
How do I say great-uncle?
Tio-avô.
Is tio masculine?
Yes: o tio.
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
