In many languages—such as Hindi, Mandarin, Arabic, and Tamil—there are distinct, specific words for your father’s elder brother versus your father’s younger brother. For example, in Hindi, your father’s elder brother is called Tauji and his younger brother is Chachaji.
However, in standard English, both your father’s elder brother and your father’s younger brother are simply called “uncle.”
English does not have dedicated single-word titles for paternal vs. maternal uncles or older vs. younger uncles. To express these specific age and lineage differences in English, you must add descriptive adjectives.
This guide breaks down how to specify older and younger paternal uncles in English, when to use these terms in formal vs. casual settings, and how English compares to other languages.
Note: This guide expands upon the language principles discussed in the English Forward Father’s Elder & Younger Brother Thread.
1. How to Specify Your Father’s Brothers in English
When you need to clarify which brother you are referring to, combine the word uncle with descriptive modifiers:
For Your Father’s Elder Brother
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Paternal elder uncle (Formal / Technical)
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My father’s older brother / My father’s elder brother (Natural conversational English)
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Elder uncle (Descriptive)
For Your Father’s Younger Brother
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Paternal younger uncle (Formal / Technical)
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My father’s younger brother (Natural conversational English)
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Younger uncle (Descriptive)
2. Direct Address vs. Indirect Description
In English, how you talk about a relative is different from how you talk to them:
Direct Address (What you call them to their face)
When speaking directly to your uncle, you simply say “Uncle” or “Uncle [First Name]” regardless of whether he is older or younger than your father.
Example: “Hello, Uncle Robert!” (Used for both older and younger uncles)
Example: “Thanks for coming over, Uncle.”
Indirect Description (Explaining the relationship to others)
When explaining your family tree to someone else, add the age or paternal distinction:
Example: “This is Robert—he is my father’s older brother.”
Example: “My paternal uncle lives in Cape Town.”
3. Paternal vs. Maternal Uncles: Key Terminology
Because “uncle” covers both sides of the family, English uses two formal adjectives to clarify lineage when needed:
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Paternal Uncle: A brother of your father (or the husband of your father’s sister).
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Maternal Uncle: A brother of your mother (or the husband of your mother’s sister).
| Relationship | Formal English Term | Casual Description |
|
Father’s Older Brother
|
Elder Paternal Uncle |
“My father’s older brother” |
|
Father’s Younger Brother
|
Younger Paternal Uncle |
“My father’s younger brother” |
| Mother’s Older Brother | Elder Maternal Uncle | “My mother’s older brother” |
| Mother’s Younger Brother | Younger Maternal Uncle | “My mother’s younger brother” |
4. Why Doesn’t English Have Separate Words?
Linguists categorize family naming systems into different types. English uses the Eskimo Kinship System, which groups relatives primarily by generational distance and gender, rather than by age order or maternal/paternal side.
Because of this, English uses a single overarching word—uncle—for all of the following:
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Your father’s brother
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Your mother’s brother
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Your father’s sister’s husband
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Your mother’s sister’s husband
Related Cluster Guides & Next Steps
Understanding family terminology helps make your communication precise and clear. Explore our related guides:
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Circumlocution Skills: Learn how to describe unknown terms in What Is It Called in English? .
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Full Kinship Guide: Master second cousins and “removed” relationships in Complete Guide to English Family Tree Terms .
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Spelling Rules: Learn why “amateur” is frequently misspelled in Amateur vs. Amature Spelling Guide .
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Master Guide: Return to our main portal on Essential English Vocabulary, Relationship Terms & Personal Writing .
Need Help Translating a Specific Family Title?
Trying to translate a unique kinship term from your native language into natural English? Ask the language experts on the original English Forward Father’s Brother Discussion Thread to get accurate translations.
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