onkelhaft

German

Etymology

Onkel +‎ -haft

Adjective

onkelhaft (comparative onkelhafter, superlative am onkelhaftsten)

1. like an uncle; avuncular

Usage notes

• The word may have a more negative tone than English avuncular, often implying a degree of officiousness or forced familiarity. More unambiguously positive words are väterlich and großväterlich.

Further reading

• “onkelhaft” in Duden online