menfolk
/ˈmenfəʊk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmenfəʊk/ (ame, ipa)
menfolk — noun
1. The adult male members of a single household or family — such as fathers, sons,
The adult male members of a single household or family — such as fathers, sons, and brothers living together — considered specifically as the male side of that home.
The menfolk in the Minho family mow the lawn and trim the hedges every Saturday.
collocation: menfolk in [family name] family
Jenna's grandmother said the menfolk of their clan caught enough salmon to feed the village.
possessive: menfolk of [group]
At the family reunion, the menfolk grilled the meat while the children set the tables.
Ravindra's father said the menfolk eat dinner together at the round table every night.
- male relatives
more general; includes all male family members by blood or marriage
- men
simpler and more neutral; menfolk adds a slightly old-fashioned, collective nuance
- womenfolk
parallel term for the female members of a family or community
文法句型
used as a plural noun
用法筆記
Often used alongside womenfolk to contrast the male and female members of a family or community. Can sound old-fashioned in some contexts.
常見錯誤
2. Men considered broadly as a whole group, without reference to a specific family
Men considered broadly as a whole group, without reference to a specific family or community.
In many old tales, the menfolk go out to hunt while the women stay home.
The documentary showed menfolk in rural Japan moving from farms to factory work by 2020.
collocation: menfolk in [region]; historical timeframe
In the frontier settlement, the menfolk chopped firewood, ploughed fields, and stood guard at night.
Lien borrowed a book about Egyptian menfolk who worked as scribes and pyramid builders.
- womenfolk
parallel term for women as a broad group
文法句型
used as a plural noun
用法筆記
Tends to appear in discussions of traditional gender roles or historical contexts. Less common in everyday modern speech.
3. The adult male members of a wider community, village, or social circle — rather
The adult male members of a wider community, village, or social circle — rather than a single household — emphasising their role in the life of the broader group.
The menfolk of the Patel community meet every Sunday to talk about local issues.
collocation: menfolk of [community]
When the storm hit, the menfolk from nearby farms came to fix the school roof.
Jabari's uncle said the menfolk hauled river stones to build the first bridge by hand.
The menfolk of the fishing village set out to sea before sunrise.
- men of the community
more formal and explicit about the social group
- male members
more neutral; lacks the slightly old-fashioned feel of menfolk
- womenfolk
parallel term for the female members of a community
文法句型
used as a plural noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense emphasises belonging to a community or social group rather than solely a household.