Aïeul (en. Grandfather)

[a.jœl]

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench
noun
A direct ancestor, typically from the paternal side.
My ancestor lived in the 18th century.
Mon aïeul a vécu au XVIIIe siècle.
A person who belongs to an earlier generation.
He has always been fascinated by the history of his ancestors.
Il a toujours été fasciné par l'histoire de ses aïeuls.
A family member, particularly in the context of heredity.
I discovered documents about my ancestors that show they were farmers.
J'ai découvert des documents sur mes aïeux qui montrent qu'ils étaient des agriculteurs.

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'avus', which means 'grandfather'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

renowned ancestor
An ancestor known for their exploits or reputation.
aïeul renommé
family history
Narrative of ancestors and significant family events.
histoire familiale
family roots
Origins or lineage of a person.
racines familiales

Related Words

ancestry
Direct line of ancestors.
ascendance
generation
A group of individuals of the same age, often related by kinship.
génération
heritage
What is passed down from generation to generation.
héritage

Slang Meanings

Old man
This ancestor knows all the stories of the village.
Cet aïeul connaît toutes les histoires du village.
Ancestor
He boasts of descending from a famous ancestor.
Il se vante de descendre d'un aïeul célèbre.