fellas

USAGE SUMMARY

"fellas" is an acceptable and widely-used word in written English.
It is a slang term used to refer to a group of men, usually friends, and can be used either as a noun or an informal greeting. Example sentence: "Hey fellas, how's everyone doing tonight?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"As Cathy Gale I got fanmail from fellas, obviously, thanks to the black leather and everything, but playing Laura I got lots more mail from women.

The Guardian

The government recently did an about-turn on its promise to repeal the 18C provision, angering the News Corp columnist Andrew Bolt who was found guilty of breaching the Racial Discrimination Act over two articles he wrote in 2009 headlined "It's so hip to be black" and "White fellas in the black".

The Guardian

"I couldn't face those fellas," she says.

The Guardian

Thanks fellas!

The Guardian

Rick Perry greeted the other candidates with a "Hey fellas", while Romney went with "Hey guys".

The Economist

One thing, however, was strangely the same: five centuries apart, they scrambled into battle to the cry, "Fellas, let's go!"The Agincourt campaign, which reached its climax on October 25th 1415, was a strange affair.

The Economist

But the main targets were three of the "five families" based in New York who control organised crime in America: the Genovese, Bonanno and, best known, the Gambino family.John D'Amico ("Jackie the Nose"), the acting Gambino boss, was among the "good fellas" arrested.

The Economist

The plan is to build on the Housing First programmes to eliminate chronic homelessness; to use a variety of approaches to try to eliminate homelessness over the next ten years among veterans, and then families and children; and finally to tackle the toughest populations, your traditional mentally ill fellas, bag ladies, and plain old hobos.

The Economist

In "Liar's Poker", his tale of Salomon Brothers in the 1980s, Michael Lewis records the words of a senior trader who worked for Lew Ranieri, the creator of mortgage-backed securities: "At other places management says, 'Well, gee, fellas, do we really want to bet the ranch on this deal?' Lewie was not only willing to bet the ranch, he was willing to hire people and let them bet the ranch too.

The Economist

He bobbed about on a boat miles away explaining how to catch pilchards with your toes, while the fellas on the island squeezed their last drops of drinkable water from their vests.

Independent

With eyes on stalks and a maniacal grin, Coombs Marr serves up a hilariously grotesque parody of a certain kind of retrograde club stand-up, which transcends nationality and is encapsulated in Dave's skin-crawling refrain "The fellas know what I'm talking about".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience: While generally acceptable, "fellas" might not be appropriate in highly formal or professional settings where a more respectful term like "gentlemen" is preferable.

Common error

Avoid using "fellas" in professional reports, academic papers, or formal presentations. Opt for more formal alternatives to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fellas" is as a plural noun, referring to a group of men. It can also be used as an informal vocative, like in the phrase "Hey fellas!". Ludwig AI states that "fellas" is an acceptable and widely-used word in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fellas" is an informal plural noun used to address or refer to a group of men in a friendly way. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is an acceptable term in written English and is very common in news and media, but may not be suitable for formal contexts, where alternatives like "gentlemen" might be more appropriate. Be sure to consider your audience and context when deciding whether to use "fellas". Its grammatical function is mainly as a plural noun or vocative. The high usage frequency and presence in reputable sources indicate its widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

guys

A very common and informal term for a group of men or mixed-gender group.

men

A general and neutral term for males.

boys

An informal term for a group of males, often used for younger men or in a playful manner.

lads

A more British term for a group of young men.

dudes

A very informal and casual term for men, often younger.

mates

An informal term, particularly in British and Australian English, for friends or companions.

gentlemen

A more formal and polite term for a group of men.

blokes

Another British slang term for men.

chaps

A slightly old-fashioned British term for men.

brothers

A term implying camaraderie and close relationship among men.

FAQs

What does "fellas" mean?

"Fellas" is an informal term, primarily used to address a group of men or boys. It's a friendly way to say "guys" or "gentlemen".

When is it appropriate to use "fellas"?

It's appropriate to use "fellas" in casual settings, addressing friends, teammates, or in informal communication. Avoid it in formal or professional environments.

Are there more formal alternatives to "fellas"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "gentlemen", "colleagues", or simply addressing them as "men" depending on the context.

Is "fellas" grammatically correct?

Yes, "fellas" is the plural form of "fella" and is grammatically correct in informal English. It functions as a noun.