Fellas is an informal English noun that serves as the plural form of fella, a colloquial variant of fellow. It is commonly used in spoken American English to refer to a group of men or, more broadly, to a mixed-gender group in a friendly or familiar manner.
Etymology
- Fella originates from fellow, which entered Middle English from Old English feolaga (“partner, companion”). The shortened form fella emerged in American English in the late 19th–early 20th century, and the plural fellas follows the regular English plural‑formation pattern by adding -s.
Usage
- The term is typically employed in informal contexts, such as casual conversation, film dialogue, song lyrics, and social media.
- Example: “Hey, fellas, let’s meet at the cafeteria at noon.”
- In contemporary usage, fellas can be gender‑neutral, though historically it referred specifically to men.
Lexicographic documentation
- Included in major English dictionaries (e.g., Merriam‑Webster, Oxford English Dictionary) with definitions that note its colloquial register and meaning “men; guys; friends.”
- Citations in printed sources date the term’s usage to at least the 1920s.
Cultural note
- The word appears in the titles of artistic works (e.g., the 1995 film Fellas; the 1995 compilation Fellas (Soundtrack)), reflecting its recognizability in popular culture.
No further speculative information is provided.
