aunt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "aunt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the sister of one's parent or the wife of one's uncle. Example: "My aunt is coming to visit us for the holidays."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Film

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

My aunt is in her late 70s and is becoming more forgetful.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Her great aunt Nina revealed that her first period arrived as she was about to be strip searched while fleeing Nazi-occupied Poland, and "the most powerful part," says Kauder Nalebuff, "was that she had never told anyone about this before.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The rest of the family had no such luck: while one of his aunts and her daughter survived because they were Catholics, his grandmother, his two uncles and his other aunt were murdered along with their families in Auschwitz and other camps; his mother's side of the family was completely wiped out.

The Guardian

Ivy lives with her slightly crazy aunt while her twin, Scarlet, is at Rookwood School.

The Guardian

They showed a carefree schoolgirl, at her confirmation, in carnival dress, and then in an open casket flanked by candles, laid out in a white dress, clutching flowers.. "People will ask 'why now, so many years later?' said Anan, who was 16 when her aunt was killed.

The Guardian

His aunt survived, as well, and died in Italy in 1998, he said.

The Guardian

Most recipes add the syrup as soon as or shortly after the pastries come out of the oven, so it can be absorbed as they cool, but Roden shares a highly "unorthodox secret trick" of her aunt Latifa's – she returns the syrupy baklava to the oven for five minutes, explaining that "the pastry made this way is among the best I have eaten".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The story told is of an aunt and uncle who care for their niece and refuse to send her to school with their sons.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Only when she was 12 did she discover that one of those aunts, Aunt Daisy, was in fact her mother.

The Guardian - Arts

Undoubtedly, her relationship to Tupac– she was his step-aunt and godmother – has played a role.

The Guardian - Books

Mr Chandler's patrician friends in Delaware included the mighty du Pont family.Yet his academic career might still not have started without a piece of luck: the discovery, in a storeroom in the house of a recently deceased great-aunt, of the papers of one of his ancestors, Henry Varnum Poor (of the Standard & Poor's Corporation).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about family relationships, ensure clarity by specifying "maternal aunt" or "paternal aunt" if the side of the family is relevant to the context.

Common error

Avoid confusing "aunt" with "great-aunt" or other more distant relatives. Be precise in your language to accurately describe family connections.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "aunt" is as a noun, serving to identify a specific family relationship. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correctly used in English. For example, sentences like "My aunt is in her late 70s..." from The Guardian illustrate its use as a subject.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Lifestyle

15%

Film

8%

Less common in

Books

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "aunt" is a common noun used to denote a specific family relationship – the sister of one's parent or the wife of one's uncle. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage across various contexts. Predominantly found in "News & Media" and "Lifestyle" content, it serves to establish familial connections and provide background information. While the term itself is neutral, related terms like "auntie" or "aunty" offer a more informal and affectionate tone. When using "aunt", clarity is key, especially when specifying maternal or paternal lineage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maternal aunt

Specifies that the aunt is on the mother's side of the family.

paternal aunt

Specifies that the aunt is on the father's side of the family.

auntie

A more informal and affectionate term for aunt.

aunty

Another informal and affectionate term for aunt.

great-aunt

The aunt of one's parent.

grand-aunt

Alternative term for great-aunt.

step-aunt

The wife of one's step-uncle.

aunt-in-law

The sister-in-law of one's parent.

female relative

A broader term encompassing various female family members.

female family member

A general term for a woman in one's family.

FAQs

How do I use "aunt" in a sentence?

You can use "aunt" to refer to your parent's sister or sister-in-law. For example, "My "aunt" is visiting us next week."

What is the difference between "aunt" and "auntie"?

"Aunt" is the standard term, while "auntie" is a more informal and affectionate term for an aunt.

What is the difference between a maternal and a paternal aunt?

A maternal "aunt" is your mother's sister, while a paternal "aunt" is your father's sister.

What can I say instead of "aunt"?

Depending on the context, you could use "female relative" or, if it's relevant, specify "maternal "aunt"" or "paternal "aunt"".