oik

Oik is a British English slang term used as a pejorative to describe a person regarded as crude, unsophisticated, or socially inferior, typically a working-class man. The word can be applied more broadly but is often aimed at males. It is considered insulting and is generally avoided in formal contexts, though some speakers may use it jokingly or self-deprecatingly within certain groups. The form oiky or oikish is occasionally encountered as an adjectival variant.

Etymology and history: The origin is uncertain. Most explanations trace oik to the Greek oikos meaning “house” or “household,” with the label invoking perceived proximity to the home and its manners. The term is documented in English slang from the 20th century and is discussed in sociolinguistic analyses as a marker of class-based attitudes and social distance.

Usage and nuance: Oik connotes vulgarity, unsophisticated taste, and a lack of cosmopolitan refinement. It sits among other class-related labels—often contrasted with more neutral terms for social class and with harsher slurs. The degree of offense and acceptability has varied over time and by speaker, and it is widely regarded as disrespectful.

In culture: The term has appeared in British literature and media as a crude label for a certain kind of urban or rural working-class person. Some discussions treat it as an example of class-indexed slang rather than a universal term.

See also: oikos, oikology, chav, yob, lout.