Aunt: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ง
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aunt

 

[ษ‘หnt ]

Definition

Context #1 | Noun

family member

The sister of one's father or mother; a woman who is the sister of one's parent.

Synonyms

auntie, auntie, aunty, relative.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
aunt

General and formal reference to your parent's sister or your uncle's wife.

  • I'm going to visit my aunt this weekend.
  • My aunt gave me a beautiful necklace for my birthday.
auntie

Affectionate and informal term used for an aunt, often used by children or in close families.

  • Auntie Jenny is coming over tonight!
  • I love my Auntie; she always tells the best stories.
aunty

Another affectionate and informal term for an aunt, more common in British and Australian English. It can also be used for non-relatives as a sign of respect for older women.

  • Aunty Liz is my favorite relative.
  • Aunty is here to take care of us.
relative

A general term for anyone in your extended family, not specifically for your aunt. It can refer to cousins, uncles, grandparents, etc.

  • I have many relatives coming to the family reunion.
  • He is a distant relative; I think he's my second cousin.

Examples of usage

  • My aunt lives in a different city.
  • I visited my aunt during the holidays.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word 'aunt' comes from the Latin word 'amita', which means 'father's sister', and 'ant' is its Middle English form.
  • In many languages, variations of the word for 'aunt' can be traced back to family ties and relational definitions, showing the importance of family in different cultures.

Cultural Significance

  • In various cultures, aunts play a vital role in the upbringing of children, often stepping in as caregivers and mentors.
  • In African cultures, aunts are frequently regarded with great respect and authority, sometimes taking on parental roles to support their extended family.

Pop Culture

  • Aunts have been featured prominently in literature and film, often portrayed as the quirky and adventurous relatives that play a significant role in the protagonist's life.
  • Disney films often highlight the aunt character as a loving caretaker, such as Aunt May in the Spider-Man franchise, who supports her superhero nephew.

Psychology

  • Research suggests that the presence of an aunt or uncle can positively affect children's emotional well-being and social development.
  • Aunts can offer unique perspectives and support, often acting as confidants, which may help deepen family ties.

Literature

  • Famous works of literature often feature aunts as pivotal figures, such as Aunt Polly in 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer', illustrating complex family dynamics.
  • In the classic novel 'Little Women', Aunt March serves as a wealthy matriarch, influencing the main characters' decisions and values.

Translations

Translations of the word "aunt" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น tia

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคšเคพเคšเฅ€

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Tante

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ bibi

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั‚ั–ั‚ะบะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ ciocia

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใŠใฐ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท tante

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ tรญa

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท hala

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ด๋ชจ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุนู…ุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ teta

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ teta

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅง‘ๅฆˆ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ teta

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ frรฆnka

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐะฟะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ“แƒ”แƒ˜แƒ“แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ bibi

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ tรญa

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,411 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.