noun
yokel
YOH-kuhl
Yokel (noun) means an unsophisticated or naive person from the countryside, often used dismissively. Example: “The city slickers laughed at what they assumed was a yokel from the sticks.”
noun
1
An unsophisticated or naive person from the countryside, often used dismissively.
"They love the scenery near their summer home, but have no desire to mix with the local yokels."
"The city slickers laughed at what they assumed was a yokel from the sticks."
"I went to New York and bought myself a secondhand stretch limousine twenty-eight feet long, calculated to reduce the most blasé country-club sophisticates to bug-eyed yokels."
— Peter De Vries (1985)
How to use yokel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA somewhat insulting term for someone seen as unrefined or provincial, usually from a rural area.
When to use it
Informal and often mocking or condescending — avoid it in respectful or formal writing.
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Word forms
- Plural
- yokels
Fill the gap
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The city slickers laughed at what they assumed was a _____ from the sticks.
Etymology
First recorded around 1812; possibly from a German nickname related to "Jakob," or from an old English dialect word for the green woodpecker.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “yokel” mean?
The word “yokel” means an unsophisticated or naive person from the countryside, often used dismissively. In plain terms, a somewhat insulting term for someone seen as unrefined or provincial, usually from a rural area.
How do you pronounce “yokel”?
“Yokel” is pronounced YOH-kuhl (/ˈjoʊ.kəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “yokel” in a sentence?
Here is “yokel” used in a sentence: “The city slickers laughed at what they assumed was a yokel from the sticks.”
What part of speech is “yokel”?
“Yokel” is a noun.
Where does the word “yokel” come from?
The word “yokel” dates back to around 1812 and comes from Old English. First recorded around 1812; possibly from a German nickname related to "Jakob," or from an old English dialect word for the green woodpecker.
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