folk

Everyday

1. Folk means people, especially ordinary people: «country folk», «old folk». tree →
2. (informal) Your folks are your parents or family: «my folks». tree →
3. (informal) «Folks» is a friendly way to speak to a group of people: «Hi, folks!» tree →
4. Folk, or folk music, is traditional music of a place, passed down by ordinary people, or modern songs in that style. tree →
5. Folk describes old customs and stories of ordinary people: a folk tale, folk dance. tree →

In the lessons

In English and history lessons folk tales and folk songs are stories and songs passed down by word of mouth, often with no known author, like Jack and the Beanstalk. In music lessons you might dance a folk dance or sing a folk song. In everyday talk «folks» is warm and friendly; «that's all, folks» ends cartoons. Phrases: «folk tale», «folk song», «folk dance», «old folk», «country folk», «ordinary folk».

Examples

• We read a Russian folk tale about a clever girl and a witch. tree →
• The old folk in the village remembered the big storm. tree →
• My folks are picking me up after school. tree →
• «Right, folks, line up please!» said the coach. tree →
• Granny loves Irish folk music with fiddles and pipes. tree →
• We learned a folk dance from Scotland. tree →
• Kind folk helped us push the car. tree →
• Many folk tales begin «Once upon a time». tree →

Note

«Folk» is already plural in meaning: «these folk are kind» (not «folks are» in formal writing, though «folks» is common in speech, especially in the USA). The l is silent: say «foke». Folklore = traditional stories and beliefs of a people.

In Jewish tradition

It means people who travel with someone.

Interpretation. Esau offered Jacob some of his men as help. Jacob refused, and tradition reads this as his wish to keep distance.

Examples

• And Esau said: 'Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me.' And he said: 'What needeth it? let me find favour in the sight of my lord.' (Torah GEN.33.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• The rock-badgers are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the crags; (Writings PRO.30.26, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thou didst crush the heads of leviathan, Thou gavest him to be food to the folk inhabiting the wilderness. (Writings PSA.74.14, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

«Folk» is already plural in meaning: «these folk are kind» (not «folks are» in formal writing, though «folks» is common in speech, especially in the USA). The l is silent: say «foke». Folklore = traditional stories and beliefs of a people.