fellow

The word “fellow” means a man or boy; a guy. In plain terms, someone in your group or category — a companion, an equal, or (formally) a title held by academics and society members.

“Fellow” is pronounced FEH-loh (/ˈfɛloʊ/ in IPA).

Here is “fellow” used in a sentence: “Who's that fellow standing by the door?”

Depending on how it is used, “fellow” can be a noun and an adjective.

The word “fellow” comes from Middle English. From Middle English felowe, ultimately from Old Norse félagi, literally "one who lays down money together (with others)" — the same root that gives us "fee" and "lay.".

“Fellow” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Fellow” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a man or boy; a guy.

Used this way, fellow is an informal, slightly old-fashioned word for a man or boy — much like guy, chap, or bloke. You might hear 'a friendly old fellow' or 'he's a decent fellow'. It is warm and casual, and today can sound a touch quaint or genteel.

Both mean a man, but they differ in tone. Guy is current, casual, and used constantly in modern speech. Fellow sounds older, gentler, and more genteel, and appears less often today. Where an American might say guy and a Briton bloke or chap, fellow feels like the polite, slightly dated cousin.

Yes. Besides meaning a man, fellow can be a member of a learned society or the holder of a university fellowship — 'a Fellow of the Royal Society'. As a modifier it means sharing a situation, as in fellow passengers or fellow students. It can also mean a companion or associate.

In the sense of a man, fellow is informal and a little dated, more likely from an older speaker or a storybook than from casual chat today. In its academic sense — a fellow of a college or society — it is quite formal, a respected title. Context decides the register.