"Folks" is a familiar way of saying people, kin, or community. While understood nationally, in Appalachian and Southern speech it often carries a warmer sense - meaning family, neighbors, or just plain "your people."
You'll hear 'folks' used on a regular basis down here.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
You'll hear 'folks' used on a regular basis down here.
Pronunciation
[FOHKS]
Meaning & Usage
- Parents or family (noun, plural)
Talking about kin
Mae:
Where’s your folks from?
Earl:
Up in Hancock County.
- People in general (noun, plural)
At a gathering
Mae:
Lots of folks showed up to the revival.
- Neighbors or community (noun, plural)
Talking about home
Mae:
Folks round here grow a lotta beans.
variations: people, kin, family, neighbors
★ In Appalachia and the South, "folks" often means "family" or "kin." Outsiders may hear it as just "people," but locals use it with more closeness. ★
Origin and Etymology
From Old English *folc* (people, tribe). Though used everywhere in English, Appalachia and the South kept "folks" as an everyday, familiar word for kin and community.
Usage Notes
Nationally understood, but much more frequent in Appalachian and Southern talk. Carries a sense of warmth and belonging when used for family or neighbors.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "fohks." Sometimes shortened to "fokes" in quick speech.
Not always. It can mean family, people in general, or neighbors - context tells the story.
Do people outside the South use "folks"?
Yes, but less often for "family."
Is "folks" formal or informal?
Informal. It’s the kind of word you hear at home, church, or around the community, not in official writing.
How to Cite This Page
APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 13). Folks. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/folks
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Folks." HillbillySlang.com, 13 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/folks.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Folks." HillbillySlang.com. September 13, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/folks.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
You'll hear 'folks' used on a regular basis down here.