>"uncle" covers at least three relatives which have separate names in other languages;
>
>Do you mean like "great-uncle" et al? I know of no other meaning other than a friend of the family, or euphemism for mum's latest boyfriend.

I'm thinking he means mother's brother, father's brother, and spouse of one's aunt (though technically, that gives 4, not 3). Some languages do distinguish maternal and paternal relatives.

Tamar