Folk

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Folk

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun and adjective

Pronunciation

FOHK  /fəʊk/

Definition

As a noun: people in general; one's family and relatives; the ordinary people of a community or society. As an adjective: relating to the traditional culture, music, or customs of a community, typically transmitted orally.

Plain meaning

Folk means people — often ordinary people, your own people, or your family. As an adjective, folk describes traditional culture passed down through communities rather than institutions.

Register

The noun sense is informal and warm. The adjective sense is neutral to positive in cultural and musical contexts.