View source for Hoi polloi

{{Short description|Expression from Greek that means "the many"}}
{{For|the Three Stooges short|Hoi Polloi}}
{{redirect|The Great Unwashed|New Zealand band|The Clean}}
{{Infobox phrase
|name = Hoi polloi
|origin= [[Greek language|Greek]]
|meaning="the many"
|original_form=
|coined_by=
}}
{{Wiktionary|hoi polloi}}
The English expression "(the) '''hoi polloi'''" ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|h|ɔɪ|_|p|ə|ˈ|l|ɔɪ}}; {{IPA|el|i po'li}}; {{etymology|grc|''{{wikt-lang|grc|οἱ}} {{wikt-lang|grc|πολλοί}}'' (hoi polloí)|the many}}) was borrowed from Ancient Greek, where it means "the [[majority (sociology)|many]]" or, in the strictest sense, "the people". In English, it has been given a negative connotation to signify the [[common people]].<ref name=mw>{{cite Merriam-Webster|hoi polloi |access-date=17 August 2018}} ''We first heard of this [new, opposite] sense [("the elites")] in the early 1950s, when it was reported to be well established in spoken use in such diverse locales as central New Jersey, southern California, Cleveland, Ohio, and Las Vegas, Nevada. Several members of our editorial staff at that time also testified to its common occurrence, and evidence in the years since strongly suggests that this sense of hoi polloi continues to be frequently used in speech. We do not know for certain how this new sense originated, but one possibility is that it developed out of the inherent snobbery of hoi polloi. In its original and primary sense, hoi polloi is a term used by snobs or—more often—in mocking imitation of snobs. Even its sound has a quality of haughtiness and condescension (much like that of hoity-toity, a term that underwent a similar extension of meaning in the 20th century, from its former sense, "frivolous," to its current sense, "marked by an air of superiority"). It may be that people unfamiliar with the meaning of hoi polloi, but conscious of its strong associations with snobbery, misunderstood it as an arrogant term for the haves rather than a contemptuous term for the have-nots, thus giving rise to its newer, contradictory sense.''</ref> Synonyms for ''hoi polloi'' include "the plebs" ([[plebeians]]), "the rabble", "the masses", "the great unwashed", "the [[wikt:riffraff|riffraff]]", and "the proles" ([[proletarians]]).<ref name="Thesaurus">{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/Hoi%20polloi |title=hoi polloi |encyclopedia=[[Roget's Thesaurus|Roget's New Millennium Thesaurus]] |publisher=Lexico Publishing Group, LLC |access-date=2006-07-12}}</ref>

There is also widespread spoken use of the term in the opposite sense to refer denigratingly to elites that is common among middle-class and lower income people in several English-speaking countries and regions, including at least Australia, North America, and Scotland since at least the 1950s.<ref name=mw/><ref>{{cite web | title=Blog – Macquarie | url=https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/blog/article/155/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125052921/https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/blog/article/155/ | archive-date=25 November 2020 }}</ref> However, this use is often considered incorrect.<ref>{{cite web | title=The American Heritage Dictionary entry: Hoi polloi | url=https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=hoi+polloi }}</ref>

The phrase probably became known to English scholars through [[Pericles' Funeral Oration]], as mentioned in [[Thucydides]]' ''[[History of the Peloponnesian War]]''. [[Pericles]] uses it in a positive way when praising the [[Athenian democracy]], contrasting it with ''[[hoi oligoi]]'', "the few" ([[Greek language|Greek]]: {{lang|grc|οἱ ὀλίγοι}}; see also ''[[oligarchy]]'').<ref>Thucydides, ''History of the Peloponnesian War'', Book&nbsp;2.34-46: "{{lang|grc|καὶ ὄνομα μὲν διὰ τὸ μὴ ἐς ὀλίγους ἀλλ᾿ ἐς πλείονας οἰκεῖν δημοκρατία κέκληται}} " (''"It is true that we are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not of the few"'').</ref>

Its current [[Linguistic prescription|English usage]] originated in the early 19th&nbsp;century, a time when it was generally accepted that one must be familiar with Greek and [[Latin language|Latin]] in order to be considered well educated.<ref name="JSTOR">{{cite periodical|title=Review of The Scientist's Thesaurus: A Treasury of the Stock Words of Science by George F. Steffanides|author=Rexine, John E.|magazine=The Modern Language Journal|volume=62|issue=5/6|date=September–October 1978|page=291}}</ref><ref name="MSU">{{cite web|url=http://www.lib.msu.edu/guides/subjects/history/british/britishleaflet.htm|title=British studies: the eighteenth century, a guide to topics in the Michigan state university libraries' collections|date=July 15, 2003|access-date=2007-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060905025734/http://www.lib.msu.edu/guides/subjects/history/british/britishleaflet.htm|archive-date=2006-09-05}}</ref> The phrase was originally written in [[Greek alphabet|Greek letters]].<ref name="Random">{{cite web| url=http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19981113|title=The Maven's Word of the Day|date=November 13, 1998|publisher=Random House|access-date=2007-01-15}}</ref><ref>Editors of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition [http://www.jewishworldreview.com/1103/dictionary_men102803.asp "Blue plate special"; how to use "hoi polloi''; "Peck's Bad Boy''] October 28, 2003, ''Jewish World Review''.</ref><ref>Lord Byron [http://engphil.astate.edu/gallery/byron4.html Lord Byron's Letters and Journals] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051219145327/http://engphil.astate.edu/gallery/byron4.html |date=2005-12-19 }} November 24, 1813.</ref> Knowledge of these languages served to set apart the speaker from ''hoi polloi'' in question, who were not similarly educated.<ref name="Random"/>

==Pronunciation==
The term is of course pronounced very differently in English, Ancient Greek, and Modern Greek:
* English educated speakers pronounce it {{IPAc-en|ˌ|h|ɔɪ|_|p|ə|ˈ|l|ɔɪ}}, but use in the opposite sense of "elites" usually has initial stress on "polloi".{{cn|date=August 2025}}<ref>https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/the-hoi-polloi?q=the+hoi+polloi</ref><ref name=mw/>
* [[Ancient Greek]] had phonemic consonant length, or gemination. Speakers would have pronounced it {{IPA|el|hoi polloi˨˦|}} with the double-λ being [[gemination|geminated]]. 
* [[Modern Greek]] speakers pronounce it {{IPA|[i poˈli]}} since in Modern Greek there is no voiceless glottal /h/ phoneme and ''οι'' is pronounced {{IPA|[i]}} (all Ancient Greek [[diphthongs]] are now pronounced as [[monophthongs]]). [[Greek Cypriots]] still pronounce the double-λ ({{IPA|[i polˈli]}}).<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.athensnews.gr/paideia/1pai4.htm|title=The chicken and the egg: the pluralism of Greek spelling|work=[[Athens News]]|access-date=2007-01-15 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061210083026/http://www.athensnews.gr/paideia/1pai4.htm|archive-date=2006-12-10}}</ref>

==Usage==
Some [[Linguistics|linguists]] argue that, given that ''hoi'' is a [[definite article]], the phrase "the hoi polloi" is redundant, akin to saying "the the masses". Others argue that this is inconsistent with other English loanwords.<ref>{{cite web |title=Definition of 'hoi polloi' |url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/hoi_polloi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703023411/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/hoi_polloi |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 3, 2017 |publisher=[[Oxford Dictionaries (website)|Oxford Dictionaries]] |access-date=17 August 2018}}</ref> The word "alcohol", for instance, derives from the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] ''al-kuhl'', ''al'' being an [[Article (grammar)|article]], yet "the alcohol" is universally accepted as good grammar.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/183475.html|title=Hoi polloi|publisher=The Phrase Finder|access-date=6 August 2019}}</ref>

==Appearances in the nineteenth century==
{{see also|Macaronic verse}}
There have been numerous uses of the term in [[English literature]]. [[James Fenimore Cooper]], author of ''[[The Last of the Mohicans]]'', is often credited with making the first recorded usage of the term in English.<ref name="dictionary.reference.com">[http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=hoi%20polloi American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition].</ref><ref name="tln01">[http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showpost.php?p=100982&postcount=84 The Literature Network].</ref> The first recorded use by Cooper occurs in his 1837 work ''[[Gleanings in Europe]]'' where he writes "After which the oi polloi are enrolled as they can find interest."<ref>Cooper, James Fenimore ''Gleanings in Europe: England'' 1837.</ref>

[[File:Byron's pyramid.png|thumb|Diagram of [[Lord Byron]]'s view of the hoi polloi, as arranged in his journals, ranked as "the many" beneath a handful of his personal contacts]]
[[Lord Byron]] had, in fact, previously used the term in his letters and journal. In one journal entry, dated 24 November 1813, Byron writes:

{{blockquote|I have not answered [[Walter Scott|W. Scott]]'s last letter,—but I will. I regret to hear from others, that he has lately been unfortunate in pecuniary involvements. He is undoubtedly the Monarch of [[Parnassus]], and the most English of bards. I should place [[Samuel Rogers|Rogers]] next in the living list (I value him more as the last of the best school) —[[Thomas Moore|Moore]] and [[Thomas Campbell (poet)|Campbell]] both third—[[Robert Southey|Southey]] and [[William Wordsworth|Wordsworth]] and [[Samuel Taylor Coleridge|Coleridge]]—the rest, οι πολλοί [hoi polloi in Greek].<ref name="Journal">{{cite web|title=Hoi polloi: Word of the Day|url=http://kmecholsky.multiply.com/journal|date=November 25, 2006|access-date=2007-01-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025152808/http://kmecholsky.multiply.com/journal|archive-date=October 25, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext05/8bpt110.txt|author=Byron, George Gordon, sixth Baron Byron|title=Byron's 1813 diary|publisher=Project Gutenberg|access-date=2006-06-13}}</ref>}}

Byron also wrote an 1821 entry in his journal "...&nbsp;one or two others, with myself, put on masks, and went on the stage with the 'oi polloi."<ref>Lord Byron, ''Detached Thoughts'', 1821.</ref>

In ''[[Confessions of an English Opium-Eater]]'', [[Thomas De Quincey]] uses the term during a passage discussing which of the English [[Social class|classes]] is most proud, noting "...&nbsp;the children of bishops carry about with them an austere and repulsive air, indicative of claims not generally acknowledged, a sort of ''[[noli me tangere]]'' manner, nervously apprehensive of too familiar approach, and shrinking with the sensitiveness of a gouty man from all contact with the οι πολλοι."<ref>Thomas De Quincey, ''Confessions of an English Opium Eater'', 1822.</ref>
 
While [[Charles Darwin]] was at the [[University of Cambridge]] from 1828 to 1831, undergraduates used the term "hoi polloi" or "Poll" for those reading for an ''[[British undergraduate degree classification|ordinary]]'' degree, the "pass degree".<ref>{{cite web|title=Letter 1189 — Darwin, C. R. to Henslow, J. S., 2 July (1848)|url=http://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/entry-1189#mark-1189.f4|publisher=Darwin Correspondence Project|year=2012|access-date=31 December 2012}}</ref> At that time only capable mathematicians would take the [[Tripos]] or honours degree. In his autobiography written in the 1870s, Darwin recalled that "By answering well the examination questions in Paley, by doing Euclid well, and by not failing miserably in Classics, I gained a good place among the οἱ πολλοί, or crowd of men who do not go in for honours."<ref>Barlow, Nora ed. 1958. ''The Autobiography of Charles Darwin 1809–1882. With the original omissions restored. Edited and with appendix and notes by his grand-daughter Nora Barlow''. London: Collins. p. [http://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?pageseq=61&itemID=F1497&viewtype=text 59].</ref>

[[W. S. Gilbert]] used the term in 1882 when he wrote the libretto of the [[comic opera]] [[Iolanthe]]. In Act I, the following exchange occurs between a group of disgruntled [[fairy|fairies]] who are arranging to elevate a lowly shepherd to the [[peerage]], and members of the [[House of Lords]] who will not hear of such a thing:

{{blockquote|
PEERS: Our lordly style<br>
You shall not quench<br>
With base canaille!

FAIRIES: (That word is French.)

PEERS: Distinction ebbs<br>
Before a herd<br>
Of vulgar plebs!

FAIRIES: (A Latin word.)

PEERS: 'Twould fill with joy,<br>
And madness stark<br>
The hoi polloi!

FAIRIES: (A Greek remark.)}}

Gilbert's parallel use of ''canaille'', ''plebs'' (''plebeians''), and ''hoi polloi'' makes it clear that the term is derogatory of the [[Social class|lower classes]]. In many versions of the vocal score, it is written as "οἱ πολλοί", likely confusing generations of amateur choristers who couldn't read Greek.

[[John Dryden]] used the phrase in his ''[[Essay of Dramatick Poesie]]'', published in 1668. Dryden spells the phrase with Greek letters, but the rest of the sentence is in English (and he does precede it with "the").{{cn|date=December 2024}}

==Appearances in the twentieth century==
The term has appeared in several films and radio programs. For example, one of the earliest [[Short subject|short films]] from the [[Three Stooges]], ''[[Hoi Polloi (1935 film)|Hoi Polloi]]'' (1935), opens in an exclusive restaurant where two wealthy gentlemen are arguing [[Nature versus nurture|whether heredity or environment]] is more important in shaping character.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=228988|title=- Trailer - Showtimes - Cast - Movies - New York Times|website=movies2.nytimes.com|access-date=27 December 2017}}</ref> They make a bet and pick on nearby [[waste collector|trashmen]] (the Stooges) to prove their theory. At the conclusion of three months in training, the Stooges attend a dinner party, where they thoroughly embarrass the professors.

The [[University of Dayton]]'s Don Morlan says, "The theme in these shorts of the Stooges against the rich is bringing the rich down to their level and shaking their heads." A typical Stooges joke from the film is when someone addresses them "Gentlemen...!" –whereupon they look over their shoulders to see whom is being addressed.<ref>von Busack, Richard, [http://www.ratical.org/ratville/3stooges75yrs.html Pure Slap Shtik] ''[[Metro Santa Cruz]]'' - January 16–22, 1997.</ref> The Stooges turn the table on their hosts by calling <i>them</i> "hoi polloi" at the end of the short.

The term continues to be used in contemporary writing. In his 1983&nbsp;introduction to [[Robert Anton Wilson]]'s ''[[Prometheus Rising]]'', [[Israel Regardie]] writes, "Once I was even so presumptuous as to warn (Wilson) in a letter that his humor was much too good to waste on hoi polloi who generally speaking would not understand it and might even resent it."<ref>Regardie, Israel [http://www.solharvest.com/cclosers/RAWilson-Prometheus.pdf Introduction] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060225165556/http://www.solharvest.com/cclosers/RAWilson-Prometheus.pdf |date=2006-02-25 }} ''[[Prometheus Rising]]'' 1983.</ref>

The term "hoi polloi" was used in a dramatic scene in the film ''[[Dead Poets Society]]'' (1989). Professor Keating speaks negatively about the use of the article "the" in front of the phrase.<ref>Schulman, Tom [http://www.ellopos.net/education/writersword_schulman_deadpoetsociety.htm Excerpts from the script] of Dead Poets Society.</ref>

The term was also used in the comedy film ''[[Caddyshack]]'' (1980). In a rare moment of cleverness, Spaulding Smails greets Danny Noonan as he arrives for the christening of The Flying Wasp, the boat belonging to Judge Elihu Smails (Spaulding's grandfather), with "Ahoy, polloi! Where did you come from, a scotch ad?" This is particularly ironic, because Danny has just finished mowing the Judge's lawn, and arrives overdressed, wearing a sailboat captain's outfit (as the girl seated next to him points out, Danny "looks like [[Dick Cavett]]").<ref name="Journal"/>

In the song "[[Risingson]]" on [[Massive Attack]]'s ''[[Mezzanine (album)|Mezzanine]]'' album, the singer apparently appeals to his company to leave the [[Nightclub|club]] they're in, deriding the common persons' infatuation with them, and implying that he's about to slide into [[Antisocial personality disorder|antisocial behaviour]]:

{{blockquote|
Toy-like people make me boy-like (...)<br />
And everything you got, hoi polloi like <br />
Now you're lost and you're lethal<br />
And now's about the time you gotta leave all<br />
These good people...dream on.<ref>Alwaysontherun.net. ''[http://www.alwaysontherun.net/massive.htm#mez2 Risingson]''. Retrieved 14 February 2007.</ref>}}

The term was used in a [[List of Keeping Up Appearances episodes#Series 1 (1990)|first-series episode]] (The New Vicar, aired 5 November 1990) of the British sitcom ''[[Keeping Up Appearances]]''. The main character, [[Hyacinth Bucket]], gets into a telephone argument with a bakery employee. When the employee abruptly hangs up in frustration, Hyacinth disparagingly refers to him as "hoi polloi". This is in keeping with her character; she looks down upon those she considers to be of lesser social standing, including working-class people.<ref>Keeping Up Appearances 02 - Welcoming The Dishy Vicar [http://www.divxmoviesenglishsubtitles.com/K/Keeping_Up_Appearances_02_-_Welcoming_The_Dishy_Vicar.html Divxmoviesenglishsubtitles.com] Accessed on 11 May 2007.</ref>

Hoi Polloi was used in [[Larry Marder]]'s ''[[Tales of the Beanworld]]'' to name the unusual group of creatures that lived beneath the Beanworld.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.rdrop.com/~half/BeanWeb/Glossary.html|title=Larry Marder's Tales of the Beanworld - The Beanworld Glossary|work=RDrop.com|access-date=2008-02-06}}</ref>

The American pop music group The Lovin' Spoonful uses the term in the lyrics of their song ''Jug Band Music'': 
: ...we staggered into land
: With all the waders eatin' sandwiches
: And tried to mooch a towel from the hoi polloi...

==Appearances in the twenty-first century==
The August 14, 2001 episode of [[CNN]]'s ''[[Larry King Live]]'' program included a discussion about whether the sport of [[polo]] was an appropriate part of the image of the [[British royal family]]. Joining King on the program were [[Robert Lacey]] and [[Kitty Kelley]]. Their discussions focused on [[Prince Charles]] and his son [[Prince William]]:

{{blockquote|Lacey said, "There is another risk that I see in polo. Polo is a very [[nouveau riche]], I think, rather vulgar game. I can say that having played it myself, and I don't think it does Prince Charles's image, or, I dare say, this is probably arrogant of me, his spirit any good. I don't think it is a good thing for him to be involved in. I also, I'm afraid, don't think [polo] is a good thing for [Charles] to be encouraging his sons to get involved in. It is a very "playboy" set. I think the whole polo syndrome is something that [[The Royal Family|the royal family]] would do very well to get uninvolved with as soon as possible.

King turned the question to Kelley, saying, "Kitty, it is kind of hoi polloi, although it is an incredible sport in which, I have been told, that the horse is 80&nbsp;percent of the game, the rider 20&nbsp;percent. But it is a great sport to watch. But it is hoi polloi isn't it?"

To which Kelley replied, "Yes, I do agree with Robert. The time is come and gone for the royals to be involved with polo. I mean it is – it just increases that dissipated aristo-image that they have, and it is too bad to encourage someone like Prince William to get involved."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0108/14/lkl.00.html|title=CNN.com - Transcripts|website=transcripts.cnn.com|access-date=27 December 2017}}</ref>}}

The term appears in the 2003 [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] [[musical theatre|musical]] ''[[Wicked (musical)|Wicked]]'', where it is used by the characters [[Elphaba]] and [[Glinda]] to refer to the many inhabitants of the [[Emerald City]]: "... I wanna be in this hoi polloi ..."<ref name="Schwartz">{{cite web|title=Wicked Lyrics - "One Short Day"|url=http://www.musicalschwartz.com/wicked-lyrics-9.htm|work=musicalschwartz.com|access-date=2007-01-15|author=Schwartz, Stephen}}</ref>

[[Jack Cafferty]], a [[CNN]] [[anchorman]], was caught misusing the term. On 9&nbsp;December&nbsp;2004 he retracted his statement, saying "And hoi-polloi refers to common people, not those rich morons that are evicting those two red-tail hawks (ph) from that fifth Avenue [[Cooperative|co-op]]. I misused the word hoi-polloi. And for that I humbly apologize."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0412/09/ltm.04.html|title=CNN.com - Transcripts|website=transcripts.cnn.com|access-date=27 December 2017}}</ref>

[[New media]] and new inventions have also been described as being by or for the hoi polloi. [[Bob Garfield]], co-host of [[NPR]]'s ''[[On the Media]]'' program, 8&nbsp;November&nbsp;2005, used the phrase in reference to changing practices in the [[Mass media|media]], especially [[Wikipedia]], "The people in the encyclopedia business, I understand, tend to sniff at the [[Wiki|wiki process]] as being the product of the mere hoi polloi."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/transcripts_070805_rewrite.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216203556/http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/transcripts_070805_rewrite.html|url-status=dead|title=On the Media|archive-date=February 16, 2006}}</ref>

In "Sunk Costs" (season 3 episode 3) of ''[[Better Call Saul]]'', Jimmy has been arrested and the DDA (Oakley) teases him "getting fingerprinted with the hoi polloi".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/alliances-form-as-better-call-saul-heads-for-a-two-fron-1798191105|title=Alliances form as Better Call Saul heads for a two-front war|first=Donna|last=Bowman|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=25 April 2017 |access-date=27 December 2017}}</ref>

The first episodio of the [[Frasier (2023 TV series)|Frasier 2023 reboot]] shows [[Kelsey Grammer]] sharing a beer with some peers while saying “What is it about the city of Boston that leads me to forego the more sophisticated temptation of the fermented grape? Sitting here with a cold brew in my hand, I feel amalgamated with the hoi polloi".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Slane |first=Kevin |date=2023-09-14 |title='Frasier' trailer brings Kelsey Grammer back to Boston |url=https://www.boston.com/culture/entertainment/2023/09/14/frasier-trailer-kelsey-grammer-boston/ |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=Boston.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Polyarchy]]
* {{annotated link|Criticism of democracy}}
* {{annotated link|Dominant ideology}}
* {{annotated link|Doxa}}
* {{annotated link|NPC (meme)}}
* {{annotated link|Tragedy of the commons}}
* {{annotated link|Tyranny of the majority}}
* {{annotated link|Vox populi}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoi Polloi}}
[[Category:English phrases]]
[[Category:Greek words and phrases]]
[[Category:Social classes]]