- An informal term, primarily used in British, Australian, and New Zealand English, for a man; equivalent to guy or chap.
Explanation
Origin
- Appeared in the mid-19th century. Its origin is uncertain.
- Theories include derivation from Shelta (Irish Traveller cant) word loke (man), or possibly related to Dutch/Flemish words. Another theory links it to Hindi loke (people, man).
- It generally refers to an ordinary, average man.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Geezer (UK, often implies a certain type of man, possibly working-class, maybe slightly rough or characterful)
- Lad (UK/Ireland, often younger man, but can be used for peers)
- Chap (UK)
- Fella (Informal shortening of fellow)
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal.
- Common and acceptable in everyday casual conversation in relevant regions.
- Avoid in formal settings (e.g., business reports, formal speeches) where man, gentleman, or a specific title would be more appropriate.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- North Americans will generally understand it means 'man' or 'guy' but will recognize it as distinctly non-native slang for their region. The term is generally neutral, but context could imply 'ordinary bloke' vs. someone more remarkable.
Examples
- He seems like a decent bloke.
- I was chatting to some bloke down the pub.
- Who's that bloke talking to Sarah?
- Just your average bloke, really.
Dialogue
Person 1: Did you see that bloke trying to parallel park outside? Took him about ten minutes!
Person 2: Haha, yeah, I saw him! Poor bloke looked really stressed.
Person 1: Tell me about it!
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Random bloke on the train just gave me his newspaper after he finished it. Some decent blokes still around! #gooddeeds
- FB Group Post: Anyone know a good bloke who can fix washing machines in the Bristol area?
- Reddit Comment: He's just a regular bloke, likes football and a pint.
Response Patterns
- Acknowledgment: Right. / Oh yeah?
- Agreement/Comment: Yeah, he seems alright. / Which bloke?
- Asking for more information: Do you know him?
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After referring to someone as 'a bloke':
- Might provide more identifying details (The one in the red shirt.).
- Might share an opinion or story about him.
Conversation Starter
- No. Used to refer to a man within a conversation, not typically to start one.
Intonation
- Casual, neutral tone.
- Stress usually falls on BLOKE.
- Seems like a nice enough BLOKE.
Generation Differences
- Used across most generations in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. It's a standard informal term, perhaps slightly more prevalent among adults than the very young, but widely understood.
Regional Variations
- Very characteristic of British, Australian, and New Zealand English.
- Also used in Ireland and South Africa.
- Much less common in North American English, where guy is the dominant equivalent. Hearing bloke strongly suggests a speaker from or influenced by the UK/Aus/NZ.