Word
aunt
US/ˈænt/
UK/ˈɑːnt/
Definitions
01parent's sister
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. the sister of your father or mother.
n. the female sibling of one's parent.
日本語:叔母※
“My aunt Sarah is my mother's younger sister and lives in London.”
“After the funeral, my aunt shared stories about growing up with my father that I had never heard before.”
Antonyms
02uncle's wife
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. the wife of your uncle.
n. the wife of one's parent's sibling.
日本語:叔母※
“My uncle Joe and his wife, my aunt Maria, are visiting us.”
“Although she is technically my aunt by marriage, she has been a central figure in our family for decades.”
Antonyms
03close family friend
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Informal
n. a woman who is a close friend of your parents, even if she is not a relative.
n. a term of affection or respect for a woman of an older generation, typically a close friend of the family.
“Even though we aren't related, I always call my mom's best friend Aunt Linda.”
“In many cultures, it is customary to address any close female friend of the parents as 'Aunt' as a sign of respect and intimacy.”
Usage
Often used as a title before a first name.
Teaching tip
This is a common example of 'fictive kinship' where family terms are used for non-relatives to show closeness.
Etymology
From Middle English aunte, from Anglo-Norman aunte, from Old French ante, from Latin amita (“father's sister”). Displaced native Middle English modrie (“aunt”) (from Old English mōdriġe (“maternal aunt”); compare Old English faþu, faþe (“paternal aunt”)). The digraph ⟨au⟩ representing /æ ~ ɑː/ instead of the expected /ɔː/ is irregular, and has not been conclusively explained (compare launch, which contains /ɑː/ in some UK dialects).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/aunt
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0