Where Does Hoi Polloi Come from?

Did you know? In Greek, hoi polloi means simply "the many". (Even though hoi itself means "the", in English we almost always say "the hoi polloi".) It comes originally from the famous Funeral Oration by Pericles, where it was actually used in a positive way.

Who said hoi polloi?

'Hoi polloi' is an Ancient Greek phrase meaning 'the many' or 'the masses'. It is used disparagingly by modern English speakers to refer to the masses: the common horde, the plebs, the working classes etc. The first recorded use in English is by John Dryden, writing in 1668.

What is the opposite of hoi polloi?

In fact, “hoi polloi,” a Greek phrase for “the many,” means the exact opposite: “the masses, the common people.” Some say this confusion arises because “hoi polloi” sounds so similar to “hoity toity” (haughty, pretentious).