This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Eric McClure is an editing fellow at wikiHow where he has been editing, researching, and creating content since 2019. A former educator and poet, his work has appeared in Carcinogenic Poetry, Shot Glass Journal, Prairie Margins, and The Rusty Nail. His digital chapbook, The Internet, was also published in TL;DR Magazine. He was the winner of the Paul Carroll award for outstanding achievement in creative writing in 2014, and he was a featured reader at the Poetry Foundation’s Open Door Reading Series in 2015. Eric holds a BA in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and an MEd in secondary education from DePaul University.
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In Indian culture, an auntie refers to any older woman. It’s a sign of affection and respect that is usually reserved for women you have some kind of social or familial connection to. If you aren’t Indian or you haven’t spent a lot of time around Indians, this may seem a little strange at first. Here, we’ll cover all of the social norms, uses, and etiquette surrounding the term. As a note, this convention is not specific to India, and you will hear “auntie” or “uncle” across all Desi cultures, although it is most widely associated with Indian people in the West.
Things You Should Know
- In Indian culture, people will often refer to all older women as aunties.
- If you’re with Indian friends or family, use “auntie” for any older woman you have a social or familial connection with.
- “Uncle” is the male version of auntie. You use it the exact same way you use “auntie.”
Steps
Expert Q&A
Tips
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While aunties are often associated with Indian people, you’ll find people using “auntie” in most Desi cultures (Desi referring broadly to anyone from the Indian subcontinent or the associated diaspora). In other words, Afghani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Nepalese, etc. people will often use “auntie” the same way Indians do.[7] Some Native American cultures will also use “auntie” the same way.[8] It's also common for Hawaiian natives to do this, although they use “Auntie” and “Unko.”[9]Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.stabroeknews.com/2016/02/13/opinion/letters/indians-use-aunty-uncle-terms-respect-world/
- ↑ https://www.mensxp.com/entertainment/bollywood/133929-indian-matchmaking-season-3-review-hate-sima-taparia.html
- ↑ https://linguistics.illinois.edu/hindi/about-hindi
- ↑ https://bigislandpulse.com/lifestyle/4-times-calling-someone-aunty-or-uncle-could-be-a-bad-idea/
- ↑ https://www.beginningwithi.com/2004/12/07/terms-of-address-what-to-call-people-in-india/
- ↑ https://www.beginningwithi.com/2004/12/07/terms-of-address-what-to-call-people-in-india/
- ↑ https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/brown-desi-south-asian-diaspora-reflects-terms-represent-erase-rcna1886
- ↑ https://www.montana.edu/news/mountainsandminds/21659/we-all-need-that-auntie
- ↑ https://bigislandpulse.com/lifestyle/4-times-calling-someone-aunty-or-uncle-could-be-a-bad-idea/