For you UK guys: Is it bloke or bloak?

[John R. Cobarruvias]

Say, when you guys say "You bloaks" is it spelled bloaks or blokes?

And by the way, what does it mean? Is it as in "guys" or "dudes" or does it
have a more negative meaning like in "You jerks"?

Curious.

[Debra Mayrhofer]

LOL! Let's set the record straight. 'Bloke' is an Aussie term, not a
British one, though they like to think it's theirs ;> It's a neutral term
with no pejorative attached. Aussie english can be curious to the
uninitiated. The word 'bastard' for instance can be a term of affection
as in " G'day you old bastard " to a dear friend. Alternate usage earns
you a brawl quicksmart!

Deb

[David McConachie]

It's spelt blokes, and means 'guys'. Alright fella?

[en...@gnosis.manawatu.planet.co.nz]

john...@ghgcorp.com (John R. Cobarruvias) writes:

> Say, when you guys say "You bloaks" is it spelled bloaks or blokes?
>
> And by the way, what does it mean? Is it as in "guys" or "dudes" or does it
> have a more negative meaning like in "You jerks"?
>
> Curious.

I use the term bloke, but I'm not from the UK (I'm neutral). It just
means 'guy', no negative connotations at all.

Andre

[Astrid Schepman]

Alex Slater (a...@wave.co.nz) wrote:
: Debra Mayrhofer <d.may...@cowan.edu.au> wrote:
: >John R. Cobarruvias wrote:
: >>
: >> Say, when you guys say "You bloaks" is it spelled bloaks or blokes?

: >>
: >> And by the way, what does it mean? Is it as in "guys" or "dudes" or does it
: >> have a more negative meaning like in "You jerks"?
: >>
: >> Curious.

: >
: >LOL! Let's set the record straight. 'Bloke' is an Aussie term, not a

: >British one, though they like to think it's theirs ;> It's a neutral term

: A bit like the Aussies who think that they invented everything (pavlova,
: "bloke", G'day etc...) :-)
: >with no pejorative attached. Aussie english can be curious to the

: >uninitiated. The word 'bastard' for instance can be a term of affection
: >as in " G'day you old bastard " to a dear friend. Alternate usage earns
: >you a brawl quicksmart!

: Needless to say the term "Aussie English" conjures up visions of "military
: intelligence" and other such oxymorons.

: In a spirit of fostering the spirit of CER,
: Alex.

No, 'bloke', which is an informal word for man was not invented by the
Aussies. It is a British word, around in the 19th century, which derives
from a language used by travelling people in Britain and Ireland which
was based on Gaelic.

When it used in England it doesn't have any negative connetations.

Paulro.