"Menfolk" is a traditional Southern and Appalachian term referring to the men of a family or household as a collective group. Like "womenfolk," it preserves an older English pattern of using "-folk" to mark kin groups in rural speech.
You'll hear 'the menfolk' out in the country in group settings, just like 'womefolk.'
Hillbilly Dude Says...
You'll hear 'the menfolk' out in the country in group settings, just like 'womefolk.'
Pronunciation
[MEN-fohk]
/ˈmɛnˌfoʊk/
Meaning & Usage
- The men of a household or family (plural noun)
Family gathering
Mae:
Where’d everybody go?
Earl:
The menfolk wandered out to the shed talkin’ tractors again.
- A collective group of men in a community (plural noun)
Church picnic
Elmer:
Who set up all these tables?
Estel:
The menfolk handled that. Womenfolk handled the food.
variations: men-folk
★ "Menfolk" almost always shows up paired with "womenfolk." It’s old-fashioned but friendly - and most often used with a wink, ‘cause everybody knows which group is actually runnin’ the show. ★
Origin and Etymology
The term comes from older rural English speech where "folk" marked family or kin groups. Settlers brought the construction to the American South and Appalachia, where it persisted due to strong kinship-based community structures. "Menfolk," "womenfolk," and "kinfolk" appear consistently in 19th-century Southern letters, diaries, sermons, and stories, later becoming emblematic of rural and mountain dialects.
Usage Notes
Still understood across the South and Appalachia, though used less often by younger speakers. Today it tends to carry a humorous, nostalgic, or storytelling tone. Outside the region, it sounds quaint but is generally understood.
Refers specifically to the male members of a family or gathering.
Often appears alongside "womenfolk" in contrastive roles.
Common in narrative, storytelling, and family-centered conversation.
No - it’s simply a collective noun. Tone can make it playful but not insulting.
Do people still say it?
Mostly older Southerners or storytellers, but it’s still recognized and used intentionally.
Does it apply to all men?
It usually refers to the men of a specific household, kin group, or gathering.
Is it uniquely Southern?
It survives most strongly in Southern and Appalachian English, though historically related "-folk" forms existed in rural British English.
How to Cite This Page
APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, December 8). Menfolk. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/menfolk
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Menfolk." HillbillySlang.com, 8 Dec. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/menfolk.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Menfolk." HillbillySlang.com. December 8, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/menfolk.
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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 'the menfolk' out in the country in group settings, just like 'womefolk.' 
