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Pedants' corner

Is there a female version of the word "avuncular"?

11 replies

Andylion · 24/04/2019 17:30

I googled and found this link with the word “materteral”.

www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2006/08/female-version-of-avuncular.html

And this link which suggests using the Latin "amita" as a starting point/root.

english.stackexchange.com/questions/58383/is-there-a-feminine-equivalent-to-the-adjective-avuncular

I'm an aunt, (a bloody terrific one, if I do say so myself Grin) and I would like an actual, recognized word that means "aunt-like". Any ideas?

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Standandwait · 24/04/2019 18:15

Unfortunately I think any female equivalents "avuncular" (like almost all female equivalent to words for men in the language) would probably be insulting. Has anyone else noticed this?

Eg. is there a male equivalent for "old bag" or "hag" or "b" (don't say "son of a b", that just passes the insult back to the woman)? Poet is a proud claim, poetess implies a flighty and vain fool.

And though aunts are not as insulted as mothers-in-law, look at PG Wodehouse and despair. I think it's time women like you launched some new words.

Herland · 24/04/2019 18:25

Materteral sounds too much like maternal. I like amita. So what about amitaral? amiteral? amitoid? Or Matantular from the French tante??

Herland · 24/04/2019 18:27

"She is matantular boss whose staff all adore her"..... that would work.

iklboo · 24/04/2019 18:33

Matantular sounds a bit like a giant spider in a cheesy horror movie Grin

NaBiAgOl · 24/04/2019 18:36

I suppose in most languages the word for aunt / uncle is either the same or only different by one letter. I dunno, maybe Avauntular

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 24/04/2019 18:39

Old coot is the best equivalent I can think of for old bag (or grumpy bugger)

donquixotedelamancha · 24/04/2019 18:40

Crazy-cat-lady-esque

Herland · 24/04/2019 20:07

Hmmm it kind of does. Or a kind of grim medical complaint... " You have a matantular cyst on your big toe!" 😂

Andylion · 26/04/2019 06:44

I kind of like "amital" but it sounds like a drug, like. Viagra for women. I like using "ma tante" as the root, particularly with my crappy French accent. "Matantesque"?

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LaMarschallin · 26/04/2019 06:49

Maybe it sounds reminiscent of a drug because of the barbiturate sodium amytal?

Now reminded of the old joke about female Viagra being "Niagara".

Andylion · 27/04/2019 13:59

LaMarschallin

That must be where I got the idea.

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