noun
uncle
B1
Means 'uncle' (brother of a parent or spouse-related). Noun masculine: der Onkel. Plural usually Onkel (nominative/accusative), but dative plural adds -n: den Onkeln. Genitive singular often des Onkels. Regular masculine declension with plural showing -n in dative. Used in family vocabulary.
Examples
Mein Onkel wohnt in Berlin.
My uncle lives in Berlin.
Die Familie besuchte den Onkel im Krankenhaus, weil das Haus sonst leer geblieben wäre.
The family visited the uncle in the hospital because otherwise the house would have remained empty.
Mein Onkel wohnt in Amerika.
My uncle lives in America.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine your uncle opening the door and saying 'Onk-el' with a friendly wave.
Sounds like 'uncle' in English — Onkel = uncle.
der — think of a masculine uncle (male person).
Notes
Common family noun. Plural is usually identical to the singular (die Onkel). Used in everyday contexts for relatives.