What should you call Telugu word babai in English?

Answer 1

As a native Telugu speaker, I can firmly assure that this Telugu language term refers to 'Uncle'.

• Strictly speaking, a 'babai' (pronounced as bah-bah-yee) is related to you as your father's younger brother or a younger male cousin. Not to be used for Step Fathers.
• In some cases, the husband of your mother's younger sister or female cousin can also be called 'babai'. As one's mother's younger sister or cousin is treated on same regard as his/her mother in Indian culture, her husband is also treated on the same level as one's father's younger brother. In such cases, he is considered as maternal 'babai' but the word 'maternal' is never coined in daily usage and is just called as 'babai'.
• As a slang word, a male friend can call another male friend as 'babai', just like the word 'dude'. This slang word is commonly used in the region of Andhra pradesh in India.

Answer 2

Uncle