Generation Alpha took that to a whole new level and made “unc.” These days, kids throw it around in a cheeky manner to refer to any adult over the age of themself. This term has found a particular home on short-form social media apps such as Instagram and TikTok. It has spread not only across the United States but Asia and Africa. Like any new linguistic trend, everyone is asking what this means and where it has come from.
As confided by many students, the label of “unc” often starts around age 20. Notably, actor Timothée Chalamet referred to himself as “unc” when he celebrated his 30th birthday, signaling a cultural shift in how younger generations perceive age. Gen Alpha thinks 30 is old. The term, full of wit and whimsy, shows the creative and optimistic spirit behind their new approach to aging.
The prefix “unc” has historical roots in African American Vernacular English (AAVE), where it has been employed for decades. Nonetheless, interpretations of the term’s usage are divided. Some believe it to be a pejorative, and others believe the use of the term to be honoring. When Sabrina Carpenter recently described producer Jack Antonoff as “uncle,” she was demonstrating the broader, playful flexibility of the term.
Googles for “unc meaning” are up 74%, pointing to a rising interest in the term. Today “unc” gets about 5.9 million monthly searches, highlighting just how hot of a keyword it is. The term is often used more playfully than confrontationally, with one teacher mentioning that “anyone can be called ‘unc’ if they carry a certain older-sibling or uncle-like energy.”
“If you need to ask what ‘unc’ means, you are one.” – Anonymous
In other cultures, it’s used in a more endearing way like “uncle” or “auntie,” stressing those family or friendship ties. This duality makes “unc” a perfect membrane for crossing generational barriers, helping to create a feeling of fellowship even amongst acquaintances and sometimes even strangers.
Beyond close acquaintances, perhaps more troublingly, younger generations have started using “unc” to refer to distant acquaintances, undermining the boundaries of familiarity and age-based respect. Some even jokingly point out that individuals in their late twenties can be dubbed “unc,” prompting responses like, “You’re calling people unc and they’re not even over 30.”
Unc has grown into an influential cultural conversation starter across Gen Alpha and away. This development indicates not only a linguistic change but a cultural backlash on how the youth perceive, portray, and engage with older generations.