folk
fohk
Folk (adj) means belonging to or originating from ordinary people, their traditions, and their culture, rather than experts or elites. Example: “The village holds a folk festival every summer, with traditional dances and costumes.”
adj
1
Belonging to or originating from ordinary people, their traditions, and their culture, rather than experts or elites.
"The village holds a folk festival every summer, with traditional dances and costumes."
"The museum displayed a collection of folk art from the region."
"She grew up listening to her grandmother's folk remedies."
noun
1
A genre of traditional or traditionally-styled music, often acoustic and rooted in a particular culture.
"She prefers folk to pop, especially songs with a simple guitar and a story."
"The band plays a mix of folk and country at weekends."
"He played folk on his guitar at the coffee shop every Friday."
How to use folk
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to ordinary people and their traditions, or the music genre built on those traditions.
Common pairings
folk music
folk tale
folk art
folk remedy
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The village holds a _____ festival every summer, with traditional dances and costumes.
Etymology
From Old English folc ("people, nation"), an ancient Germanic word related to German Volk and Dutch volk.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for folk
See all rhymes for folk →Frequently asked questions
What does “folk” mean?
The word “folk” means belonging to or originating from ordinary people, their traditions, and their culture, rather than experts or elites. In plain terms, relating to ordinary people and their traditions, or the music genre built on those traditions.
How do you pronounce “folk”?
“Folk” is pronounced fohk (/foʊk/ in IPA).
How do you use “folk” in a sentence?
Here is “folk” used in a sentence: “The museum displayed a collection of folk art from the region.”
What part of speech is “folk”?
Depending on how it is used, “folk” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “folk” come from?
The word “folk” comes from Old English. From Old English folc ("people, nation"), an ancient Germanic word related to German Volk and Dutch volk.
Is “folk” a common word?
“Folk” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “folk” have?
“Folk” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: belonging to or originating from ordinary people, their traditions, and their culture, rather than experts or elites.
What is the difference between 'folk' and 'folks'?
'Folk' can mean people in general or refer to ordinary people's traditions and culture. 'Folks' is an informal plural often used to mean people collectively or, in some regions, one's family or parents. 'Folk' is also used uncountably, as in 'country folk'.
What makes music 'folk' music?
Folk music is a genre of traditional or traditionally styled music, often acoustic and rooted in a particular culture. It typically draws on the customs and everyday life of ordinary people rather than formal, classical, or elite traditions.
What is the difference between 'folk' and 'people'?
Both can refer to human beings collectively, but 'folk' carries a warmer, more traditional or homely flavour and often appears in fixed phrases like 'town folk' or 'old folk'. 'People' is the neutral, everyday word suitable for any register.
When is 'folk' used as an adjective?
As an adjective, 'folk' means belonging to or originating from ordinary people and their traditions rather than experts or elites. This gives phrases such as folk tale, folk remedy, folk dance, and folk art.
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