Wiktionary

folk

See also: Folk and fólk

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Etymology tree
Proto-Germanic *fulkazder.
Proto-Germanic *fulką
Proto-West Germanic *folk
Old English folc
Middle English folk
English folk

    From Middle English folk, from Old English folc, from Proto-West Germanic *folk, from Proto-Germanic *fulką, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₁-gós, from *pleh₁- (“to fill”).

    Cognate with Saterland Frisian Foulk, West Frisian folk, Dutch volk, German Low German and German Volk, Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish folk, Faroese and Icelandic fólk. Doublet of volk.

    Pronunciation

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    Noun

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    folk (countable and uncountable, plural folks)

    1. (countable, archaic) A people; a tribe or nation; the inhabitants of a region, especially the native inhabitants.
      • 1878-1880, John Richard Green, History of the English People:
        The organization of each folk, as such, sprang mainly from war.
      • 1907, Race Prejudice, Jean Finot, page 251:
        We thus arrive at a most unexpected imbroglio. The French have become a Germanic folk and the Germanic folk have become Gaulish!
    2. (collective plural) People, persons.
      There were a lot of folk in the streets.
      Young folk, old folk, everybody come / To our little Sunday School, and have a lot of fun.
      • 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:
        “ […] the awfully hearty sort of Christmas cards that people do send to other people that they don't know at all well. You know. The kind that have mottoes […] . And then, when you see [the senders], you probably find that they are the most melancholy old folk with malignant diseases. […] ”
    3. (collective plural, usually as folks) One’s relatives, especially one’s parents.
      I need to call my folks back home.
    4. (music) Ellipsis of folk music.

    Usage notes

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    • In principle, folk behaves grammatically like the synonym people. As a countable noun (meaning “nation”) it may take the plural folks. As a collective plural (meaning “persons”) it remains unchanged. Informally, however, the form folks is also used in the collective sense (which is not possible for peoples). This latter usage is particularly common in the sense “relatives”.

    Derived terms

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    Translations

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    Adjective

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    folk (not comparable)

    1. Of or pertaining to the inhabitants of a land, their culture, tradition, or history.
    2. Of or pertaining to common people as opposed to ruling classes or elites.
    3. (architecture) Of or related to local building materials and styles.
    4. Believed or transmitted by the common people; not academically or ideologically correct or rigorous.
      folk psychology; folk linguistics
      • 2025 April 28, Ross Douthat, Nick Adams, “Condition of America”, in New Left Review‎[1], number 152, →ISSN:
        Americans are not libertarians in the Cato Institute sense of the word, but they are folk libertarians in this sense of impulsive behaviour, which is a feature of American life that anyone who wants to govern the United States, Democratic or Republican, has to be aware of.

    Derived terms

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    Translations

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    Further reading

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    Danish

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    Etymology 1

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    From Old Norse fólk, from Proto-Germanic *fulką.

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): /fɔlk/, [fʌlˀɡ̊]

    Noun

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    folk n (singular definite folket, plural indefinite folk)

    1. people, persons
      Der var mange folk på torvet.
      There were many people on the plaza.
    2. one, people
      Folk ved ikke hvor meget deres hamstre er værd.
      People don't know how much their hamsters are worth.
    3. (countable) a people, a nation (not necessarily politically or geographically united)
    4. crew
    Declension
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    Declension of folk
    neuter
    gender     		singular plural
    indefinite definite indefinite definite
    nominative folk folket folk folkene
    genitive folks folkets folks folkenes
    Synonyms
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    Derived terms
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    Further reading
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    Etymology 2

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    From English folk (“folk music”).

    Pronunciation

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    Noun

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    folk c (singular definite folken, not used in plural form)

    1. (music) folk music (contemporary music in the style of traditional folk music)
      Coordinate terms: folkemusik, protestsang
    Declension
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    Declension of folk
    common
    gender     		singular
    indefinite definite
    nominative folk folken
    genitive folks folkens

    See also

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    Finnish

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    Alternative forms

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    Etymology

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    From English folk.

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): /ˈfolk/, [ˈfo̞lk]
    • Rhymes: -olk
    • Syllabification(key): folk
    • Hyphenation(key): folk

    Noun

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    folk

    1. (music) folk, folk music

    Declension

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    Inflection of folk (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)
    nominative folk folkit
    genitive folkin folkien
    partitive folkia folkeja
    illative folkiin folkeihin
    singular plural
    nominative folk folkit
    accusative nom. folk folkit
    gen. folkin
    genitive folkin folkien
    partitive folkia folkeja
    inessive folkissa folkeissa
    elative folkista folkeista
    illative folkiin folkeihin
    adessive folkilla folkeilla
    ablative folkilta folkeilta
    allative folkille folkeille
    essive folkina folkeina
    translative folkiksi folkeiksi
    abessive folkitta folkeitta
    instructive — folkein
    comitative See the possessive forms below.
    Possessive forms of folk (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)
    first-person singular possessor
    singular plural
    nominative folkini folkini
    accusative nom. folkini folkini
    gen. folkini
    genitive folkini folkieni
    partitive folkiani folkejani
    inessive folkissani folkeissani
    elative folkistani folkeistani
    illative folkiini folkeihini
    adessive folkillani folkeillani
    ablative folkiltani folkeiltani
    allative folkilleni folkeilleni
    essive folkinani folkeinani
    translative folkikseni folkeikseni
    abessive folkittani folkeittani
    instructive — —
    comitative — folkeineni
    second-person singular possessor
    singular plural
    nominative folkisi folkisi
    accusative nom. folkisi folkisi
    gen. folkisi
    genitive folkisi folkiesi
    partitive folkiasi folkejasi
    inessive folkissasi folkeissasi
    elative folkistasi folkeistasi
    illative folkiisi folkeihisi
    adessive folkillasi folkeillasi
    ablative folkiltasi folkeiltasi
    allative folkillesi folkeillesi
    essive folkinasi folkeinasi
    translative folkiksesi folkeiksesi
    abessive folkittasi folkeittasi
    instructive — —
    comitative — folkeinesi
    first-person plural possessor
    singular plural
    nominative folkimme folkimme
    accusative nom. folkimme folkimme
    gen. folkimme
    genitive folkimme folkiemme
    partitive folkiamme folkejamme
    inessive folkissamme folkeissamme
    elative folkistamme folkeistamme
    illative folkiimme folkeihimme
    adessive folkillamme folkeillamme
    ablative folkiltamme folkeiltamme
    allative folkillemme folkeillemme
    essive folkinamme folkeinamme
    translative folkiksemme folkeiksemme
    abessive folkittamme folkeittamme
    instructive — —
    comitative — folkeinemme
    second-person plural possessor
    singular plural
    nominative folkinne folkinne
    accusative nom. folkinne folkinne
    gen. folkinne
    genitive folkinne folkienne
    partitive folkianne folkejanne
    inessive folkissanne folkeissanne
    elative folkistanne folkeistanne
    illative folkiinne folkeihinne
    adessive folkillanne folkeillanne
    ablative folkiltanne folkeiltanne
    allative folkillenne folkeillenne
    essive folkinanne folkeinanne
    translative folkiksenne folkeiksenne
    abessive folkittanne folkeittanne
    instructive — —
    comitative — folkeinenne
    third-person possessor
    singular plural
    nominative folkinsa folkinsa
    accusative nom. folkinsa folkinsa
    gen. folkinsa
    genitive folkinsa folkiensa
    partitive folkiaan
    folkiansa     		folkejaan
    folkejansa
    inessive folkissaan
    folkissansa     		folkeissaan
    folkeissansa
    elative folkistaan
    folkistansa     		folkeistaan
    folkeistansa
    illative folkiinsa folkeihinsa
    adessive folkillaan
    folkillansa     		folkeillaan
    folkeillansa
    ablative folkiltaan
    folkiltansa     		folkeiltaan
    folkeiltansa
    allative folkilleen
    folkillensa     		folkeilleen
    folkeillensa
    essive folkinaan
    folkinansa     		folkeinaan
    folkeinansa
    translative folkikseen
    folkiksensa     		folkeikseen
    folkeiksensa
    abessive folkittaan
    folkittansa     		folkeittaan
    folkeittansa
    instructive — —
    comitative — folkeineen
    folkeinensa

    Derived terms

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    compounds

    Further reading

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    French

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    Pronunciation

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    Noun

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    folk m or f (plural folks)

    1. folk (folk music)

    Middle English

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    Alternative forms

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    Etymology

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      From Old English folc, from Proto-West Germanic *folk, from Proto-Germanic *fulką.

      Pronunciation

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      Noun

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      folk (plural folk or folkes)

      1. people, folk (multiple individuals)
      2. nation, race, stock
        • c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.)‎[3], published c. 1410, Apocalips 11:18, folio 121, recto, column 2; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:
          ⁊ folkis ben wrooþ · ⁊ þi wraþþe cam · ⁊ tyme of deed men to be demed · ⁊ to ȝelde meede to þi ſeruauntis ⁊ pꝛophetis ⁊ halowis ⁊ dꝛedynge þi name · to ſmale ⁊ to grete / ⁊ to diſtrie hem þat coꝛrumpiden þe erþe
          And the nations were furious; then your fury came. It is time for the dead to be judged, to give rewards to your servants, prophets, saints, and those who fear your name, both small and large, and to destroy those who destroyed the Earth.
      3. group, band, troop (of people):
        1. subjects, followers, comitatus
        2. army, retinue (group of armed people)
        3. gathering, parliament
      4. family, kin, relatives
      5. humankind, humanity; all people
      6. (rare) creatures, beings

      Usage notes

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      • This noun may be either treated as a conventional singular noun (with folkes as a plural or an uncountable collective noun.
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      Descendants

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      • English: folk; folkes
      • Scots: fowk

      References

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      Norwegian Bokmål

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      Etymology

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      Inherited from Danish folk, from Old Norse fólk, folk, from Proto-Germanic *fulką.

      Noun

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      folk n (definite singular folket, indefinite plural folk, definite plural folka or folkene)

      1. (countable) a people, nation
      2. (plural only or collective) people, folk

      Usage notes

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      • Sense 1 is countable. The difference from English is that the indefinite plural is unchanged in form: et folk > to folk (“a people > two peoples”).
      • Sense 2 can be plural as in English, but can also be construed as a collective singular: unge folk / ungt folk (“young people”). The latter may now be dated.

      Derived terms

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      References

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      Norwegian Nynorsk

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      Alternative forms

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      Etymology

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      From Old Norse folk, fólk. Akin to English folk.

      Pronunciation

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      Noun

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      folk n (definite singular folket, indefinite plural folk, definite plural folka)

      1. people
        Folk er rare.
        People are strange.
        Det var mykje folk på festen.
        There was a lot of people at the party.
        Nordmennene er eit rart folk.
        The Norwegians are a strange people.

      Derived terms

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      Male given names:

      Female given names:

      References

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      Old Frisian

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      Alternative forms

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      Etymology

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      From Proto-West Germanic *folk, from Proto-Germanic *fulką.

      Noun

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      folk n

      1. people, folk

      Inflection

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      Declension of folk (neuter a-stem)
      singular plural
      nominative folk folk
      accusative folk folk
      genitive folkes folka
      dative folke folkum, folkem

      Descendants

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      Old High German

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      Alternative forms

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      Etymology

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      From Proto-West Germanic *folk

      Noun

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      folk n

      1. people, folk
      2. troop; group of warriors

      Declension

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      Declension of folk (neuter a-stem)
      case singular plural
      nominative folk folk
      accusative folk folk
      genitive folkes folko
      dative folke folkum
      instrumental folku —

      Descendants

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      Old Norse

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      Alternative forms

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      Etymology

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      From Proto-Germanic *fulką.

      Noun

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      folk n

      1. troop, army
      2. people

      Usage notes

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      • The meaning of ‘troop, army’ is decidedly older and is the only one present in the earliest poetry. There, þjóð and lýðir are used for the meaning ‘people’.

      Declension

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      Declension of folk (strong a-stem)
      neuter singular plural
      indefinite definite indefinite definite
      nominative folk folkit folk folkin
      accusative folk folkit folk folkin
      dative folki folkinu folkum folkunum
      genitive folks folksins folka folkanna

      Descendants

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      Old Saxon

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      Alternative forms

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      Etymology

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      From Proto-West Germanic *folk.

      Noun

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      folk n

      1. people, folk

      Declension

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      folk (neuter a-stem)
      singular plural
      nominative folk folk
      accusative folk folk
      genitive folkes folkō
      dative folke folkun
      instrumental — —

      Descendants

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      • Middle Low German: volk
        • Low German: Volk
          • German Low German: Volk
            Hamburgisch: Volk
            Westphalian:
            Lippisch: Volk
            Ravensbergisch: Folk
            Sauerländisch: Volk
            Westmünsterländisch: Volk
        • Plautdietsch: Volkj

      Polish

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      Polish Wikipedia has an article on:
      Wikipedia pl

      Etymology

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      Borrowed from English folk (music), from Middle English folk, from Old English folc, from Proto-West Germanic *folk, from Proto-Germanic *fulką, from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₁-gós, from *pleh₁-.

      Pronunciation

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      Noun

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      folk m inan

      1. folk music (contemporary music in traditional style)

      Declension

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      Declension of folk
      singular
      nominative folk
      genitive folku
      dative folkowi
      accusative folk
      instrumental folkiem
      locative folku
      vocative folku

      Derived terms

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      adjective
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      adverb

      Further reading

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      • “folk”, in Wielki słownik języka polskiego‎[4] (in Polish), Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
      • “folk”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎[5] (in Polish)

      Portuguese

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      Etymology

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      Etymology tree
      Proto-Germanic *fulkazder.
      Proto-Germanic *fulką
      Proto-West Germanic *folk
      Old English folc
      Middle English folk
      English folkubor.
      Portuguese folk

        Unadapted borrowing from English folk.

        Pronunciation

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        Noun

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        folk m (uncountable)

        1. (music) folk music (contemporary music in traditional style)
          Synonym: música folk

        Further reading

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        Romanian

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        Etymology

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        Borrowed from English folk.

        Noun

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        folk n (uncountable)

        1. folk music

        Declension

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        singular only indefinite definite
        nominative-accusative folk folkul
        genitive-dative folk folkului
        vocative folkule

        Scots

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        Noun

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        folk (plural folks)

        1. alternative spelling of fowk

        Spanish

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        Alternative forms

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        Etymology

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        Etymology tree
        Proto-Germanic *fulkazder.
        Proto-Germanic *fulką
        Proto-West Germanic *folk
        Old English folc
        Middle English folk
        English folkbor.
        Spanish folk

          Borrowed from English folk.

          Pronunciation

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          • IPA(key): /ˈfolk/ [ˈfolk]
          • Rhymes: -olk
          • Syllabification: folk

          Noun

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          folk m (uncountable)

          1. folk (music)

          Further reading

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          Swedish

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          Etymology

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          From Old Swedish fōlk, from Runic Swedish fulk, from Old Norse fólk, folk, from Proto-Germanic *fulką.

          Pronunciation

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          Noun

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          folk n

          2. (chiefly uncountable) people
            Det var mycket folk på Stigs fest
            There were a lot of people at Stig's party
            Det står en massa folk där borta
            There is a bunch of people standing over there
            komma bort i folkhavet
            get lost in the sea of people
            vanligt folk
            common people
            fint folk
            people of high social standing, gentlefolk
            båtfolk
            boat people (people into boating)
            folk och fä
            people and animals (idiomatic)
            Han är väl som folk är mest
            I guess he's like most people [like people are mostly – slightly unusual phrasing, but idiomatic in "som group är mest"]
            1. (countable) a people (larger social unit, often the people of a nation)
              Folket har talat. Nisses kebabsås vann omröstningen.
              The people have spoken. Nisse's kebab sauce won the vote.
              det amerikanska folket
              the American people
              de nordiska folken
              the Nordic peoples
              orsaka en folkstorm
              cause a public outcry
            2. (chiefly uncountable) people (most people or the common people, sometimes also in terms of culture, traditions, etc.)
              folk och herrar
              people and lords
              folkets fiender
              the enemies of the people
              Folket reste sig mot adeln och kungamakten
              The people rose up against the nobility and royalty
              folkmusik
              folk music
              folkdräkt
              folk costume
              1. (in some expressions) ordinary, reasonable people
                Du verkar stressad, Nisse. Ta dig en sup så att du blir som folk.
                You seem stressed out, Nisse. Have a drink to straighten yourself out [so that you become like people].
                Uppför dig som folk!
                Act like a civilized person [like people]!
                Hon borde växa upp och bli som folk
                She should grow up and become a responsible adult [become like people]

          Usage notes

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          • Not inherently rustic like English folk, but sometimes with similar connotations, as seen above.
          • Usually interchangeable with människor in the generic sense of people.
          • Refers to international law in folkrätt.

          Declension

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          Declension of folk
          nominative genitive
          singular indefinite folk folks
          definite folket folkets
          plural indefinite folk folks
          definite folken folkens

          Derived terms

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          See also

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          References

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          West Frisian

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          Etymology

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          From Old Frisian folk, from Proto-West Germanic *folk.

          Pronunciation

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          Noun

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          folk n (plural folken, diminutive folkje)

          1. people, folk

          Further reading

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          • “folk”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011

          Interjection

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          folk

          1. call at the door if anyone's home
          Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=folk&oldid=91661718"