der
Onkel
👨👧👦 What does "der Onkel" mean?
Der Onkel refers to a male family member. It means the brother of a person's father or mother (uncle).
- Main meaning: Brother of a parent.
- It can also refer to the husband of an aunt (angeheirateter Onkel - uncle by marriage).
- Colloquially, children sometimes call a close male family friend "Onkel", even if there is no biological relationship.
⚠️ There is only this one main meaning for the noun "Onkel" in German, and it is always masculine (der Onkel).
Article rules for der, die, and das
Male characters → always masculine.
Caution: Most professions also have their feminine forms (e.g. die Polizistin). Some words can also have two forms: der/die Deutsche, der/die Kranke.
-el → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. there are many -el words, we don't list them all.
📐 Grammar & Declension of "Onkel"
"Onkel" is a masculine noun and takes the article "der". It belongs to the n-declension in the plural, but not in the singular (a peculiarity for relationship terms like Onkel, Neffe etc.).
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Onkel |
| Accusative | den | Onkel |
| Dative | dem | Onkel |
| Genitive | des | Onkels |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Onkel |
| Accusative | die | Onkel |
| Dative | den | Onkeln |
| Genitive | der | Onkel |
Example Sentences
- Nominative: Der Onkel kommt heute zu Besuch. (The uncle is visiting today.)
- Accusative: Ich habe den Onkel gestern getroffen. (I met the uncle yesterday.)
- Dative: Ich gebe dem Onkel ein Geschenk. (I'm giving the uncle a present.)
- Genitive: Das ist das Auto des Onkels. (That is the uncle's car.)
- Plural Nominative: Meine beiden Onkel leben in Berlin. (My two uncles live in Berlin.)
- Plural Dative: Ich fahre zu meinen Onkeln. (I'm driving to my uncles'.)
🗣️ How is "Onkel" used?
The term "Onkel" is mainly used to describe the family relationship.
- Direct relationship: To designate the brother of the mother or father ("Mein Onkel Karl ist sehr nett." - My uncle Karl is very nice.).
- Relationship by marriage: The husband of the aunt is also called Onkel ("Meine Tante Maria und mein Onkel Peter kommen auch." - My aunt Maria and my uncle Peter are coming too.).
- Form of address: Children sometimes informally address close male family friends as "Onkel", often followed by the first name ("Hallo, Onkel Thomas!" - Hello, Uncle Thomas!). This is a sign of respect and affection, even without blood ties.
- Contrast: The female counterpart is die "Tante" (aunt - sister of a parent or wife of an uncle).
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
-
Article Mnemonic: The uncle is der Onkel. Both 'the' and 'der' have an 'e'. An uncle is a male relative, and 'der' is the masculine article.
-
Meaning Mnemonic: Think of 'uncle' sounding a bit like 'ankle'. You have an ankle, which is part of *your* body (like family), but it's not your main part (like a parent). Or: Onkel sounds like 'on call' - your uncle might be 'on call' for fun activities or help.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Onkel
Synonyms
- Oheim: (archaic, formal) An older term for the maternal uncle. Rarely used today.
- Colloquial (rare): Onki
Related Terms
- Großonkel: (Great-uncle) The brother of a grandparent.
😂 A Little Joke
Deutsch: Fragt der kleine Fritz seinen Onkel: "Du, Onkel Hans, kannst du mir sagen, wie lange Krokodile leben?" Sagt der Onkel: "Ich glaube, genauso lange wie kurze!"
English: Little Fritz asks his uncle: "Hey, Uncle Hans, can you tell me how long crocodiles live?" The uncle replies: "I believe, just as long as short ones!"
📜 Poem about the Uncle
Deutsch:
Ein Onkel, das ist wunderbar,
Ist für dich da, Jahr für Jahr.
Mal streng, mal lustig, immer fair,
Ihn mag ich wirklich sehr!
Er bringt Geschenke, lacht mit dir,
Ein Freund, ein Ratgeber, glaub es mir.
Ob Vaters Bruder, Mutters Held,
Der beste Onkel auf der Welt!
English Translation:
An uncle, that is wonderful,
Is there for you, year after year.
Sometimes strict, sometimes funny, always fair,
I really like him very much, I swear!
He brings presents, laughs with you,
A friend, an advisor, believe me, it's true.
Whether father's brother, mother's hero bold,
The best uncle in the world, I'm told!
🧩 Riddle Time
Deutsch:
Ich bin der Bruder deiner Mutter,
oder der deines Vaters, nicht ihr Gatte.
Ich bringe oft Geschenke mit,
und spiele gern mit dir – ein Hit!
Wer bin ich?
English Translation:
I am your mother's brother,
or your father's, not her husband.
I often bring gifts along,
and love to play with you – where I belong!
Who am I?
Lösung / Answer: Der Onkel / The Uncle
💡 Other Information & Trivia
Etymology: The German word "Onkel" comes from the French word "oncle", which in turn derives from the Latin "avunculus" (maternal uncle). It became established in German around the 17th/18th century, partially replacing older terms like "Oheim" (maternal uncle) and "Vetter" (originally also used for paternal uncle).
Cultural Note: In many cultures, the Onkel plays an important social role in the extended family, sometimes acting as a surrogate father figure or mentor.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Onkel?
The word "Onkel" is always masculine. The correct form is der Onkel (nominative singular), des Onkels (genitive singular), die Onkel (nominative/accusative plural), and den Onkeln (dative plural). It refers to the brother of a parent or the husband of an aunt (uncle).