menfolk
The men in a family, household, or crowd.
Also called menfolks, men-folks.
Updated September 24, 2026
menfolk pronunciation
/MEN-fohk/
Meaning
Menfolk means the male side of a group, usually kin or the men around the place. In rural Southern and Appalachian talk, somebody might say the menfolk are out in the barn, off hunting, or fixing on the truck. It pairs with womenfolk and treats the whole bunch as one unit, not one guy at a time.
How folks use it
- “The menfolk stayed out late working on that fence.”
- “Ask the menfolk if they want supper before they head to town.”
Origin and etymology
English compound of men plus folk, attested by the mid-1700s. In American English it stuck hardest in the South and South Midland. Appalachian speech kept forms like menfolks for the male contingent of a family or community.
Frequently asked questions
Is menfolk the same as just saying men?
Close, but menfolk usually means the men belonging to a family or group, not random guys in general.