people
people
Pronunciation
/ˈpiːpəl/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
First Syllable: /piː/
/p/: Voiceless bilabial plosive (as in "pat")
/iː/: Long close front unrounded vowel (as in "fleece")
Second Syllable: /pəl/
/p/: Voiceless bilabial plosive (as in "pat")
/əl/: Syllabic lateral approximant (a schwa-like vowel sound followed by an "l" sound, often found in unstressed syllables like in "bottle")
Word Form Variations
As a Noun:
Singular (referring to an individual): person (While "people" can refer to individuals collectively, "person" is the singular form for a single human being.)
Plural (general, collective human beings): people (This is the most common use of "people" – it's already plural.)
Example: "Many people attended the event."
Plural (referring to distinct groups or nations): peoples (This form is used when you're talking about different ethnic groups, nations, or tribes.)
Example: "The indigenous peoples of the Amazon have unique cultures."
Possessive (singular): person's
Example: "This is one person's opinion."
Possessive (plural, general): people's
Example: "The people's choice was clear."
Possessive (plural, distinct groups): peoples'
Example: "The peoples' histories were intertwined."
As a Verb:
Base form/Infinitive: people (meaning to inhabit or populate a place)
Example: "The early settlers began to people the land."
Third-person singular present: peoples
Example: "The community peoples the new housing development rapidly."
Present participle: peopling
Example: "The continent was gradually peopling over centuries."
Past tense: peopled
Example: "The island was peopled by various tribes."
Past participle: peopled
Example: "The stories were peopled with fantastical creatures."
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: Human beings in general; the collective body of individuals comprising a community, nation, or the human race.
Synonyms: humanity, humankind, mankind, individuals, persons, citizenry, populace, public, denizens.
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for "people" in this sense, as it refers to a collective. One might consider "animals" or "objects" in specific contrasting contexts, but they are not true antonyms for the concept of human beings.)
Definition: (Plural, used as "peoples") Distinct ethnic groups, nations, or tribes, especially when emphasizing their unique cultural, historical, or geographical identities.
Synonyms: ethnic groups, nations, tribes, communities, societies, populations.
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for "peoples" in this sense, as it refers to a classification of human groups.)
Definition: The ordinary citizens of a country, as distinguished from those in positions of power or authority; the common folk.
Synonyms: commoners, masses, plebeians, populace, public, grassroots, rank and file.
Antonyms: aristocracy, elite, nobility, gentry, leadership, authorities, rulers.
Verb
Definition: To inhabit or reside in a place; to fill a place with people or living beings.
Synonyms: populate, settle, colonize, inhabit, occupy, reside in, dwell in.
Antonyms: abandon, depopulate, vacate, desert, evacuate.
Definition: To furnish or provide with a population; to stock (a place) with inhabitants.
Synonyms: populate, settle, fill, furnish with inhabitants, provide inhabitants for.
Antonyms: empty, clear out, strip (of inhabitants).
Examples of Use
Newspapers/Online Publications:
"The recent protests saw thousands of people take to the streets to voice their concerns about the new legislation." (Kenya's Daily Nation)
"Scientists are studying how climate change affects the indigenous peoples of the Arctic." (The Guardian)
"A poll conducted last month showed that 60% of people are optimistic about the economic outlook for the coming year." (The Wall Street Journal)
Books:
"It was a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so firmly fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters." (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813 – The entire narrative revolves around the interactions and societal norms of people in that era.)
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." (George Orwell, Animal Farm, 1945 – A fable that uses animals to satirize political systems and the nature of power among people.)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Series: "The show follows the lives of six young people living in New York City." (Friends, first aired September 1994)
Film: "How many people does it take to change a light bulb?" (A common joke format often heard in comedies, implying a collective effort of people.)
Music: "Heal the world, make it a better place, for you and for me and the entire human race. There are people dying, if you care enough for the living, make it a better place for you and for me." (Michael Jackson, "Heal the World," Dangerous)
Video Games: "The game allows players to build and manage cities, affecting the lives of thousands of virtual people." (SimCity)
General Public Discourse:
"I saw so many people at the market today, it was hard to move." (Casual conversation)
"We need to empower young people to be leaders in their communities." (Public speech by a community organizer)
"The park was peopled by families enjoying the sunny afternoon." (Descriptive comment)
10 Quotes Using People
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." (people implied, but often misattributed as directly containing the word) – The actual quote that uses "people" is: "When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it—always." (Mahatma Gandhi)
"Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth." (Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address)
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." (Maya Angelou)
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." (Eleanor Roosevelt)
"In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of." (Confucius – No direct famous quote with the word "people" found for Confucius, so this is a supplemental quote about governance.)
"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." (Nelson Mandela – No direct famous quote with the word "people" found for Nelson Mandela that fits the length constraint, so this is a supplemental quote about courage.)
"In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart." (Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl)
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." (Martin Luther King Jr. – While this quote is universally recognized, its original phrasing does not contain "people"; it speaks of children being judged. The spirit of it is about how people should be judged.)
"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation." (Oscar Wilde)
"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." (Albert Einstein)
Etymology
The word "people" has a fascinating journey through language!
It comes to us from the Latin word "populus," which meant a "people, nation, or body of citizens." It essentially referred to a whole group or community of humans, not just one individual.
This Latin word then traveled through Old French, where it became "pople" or "peuple." Finally, it arrived in English during the Middle English period (around the 13th century), appearing as "peple" or "poeple."
So, its first known use in English carried a similar meaning to its Latin root: referring to humans in general, or a group of persons collectively, like a nation or a crowd. It wasn't originally the direct plural of "person" – that role was often filled by "persons." Over time, "people" became the much more common way to refer to multiple individuals, even though "person" comes from a different Latin word ("persona," meaning actor's mask or character).
Phrases + Idioms Containing People
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using the word "people":
People power: The collective strength or influence of ordinary citizens.
People person: Someone who enjoys and is good at interacting with others.
People skills: The ability to communicate effectively and work well with others.
Salt of the earth people: Good, honest, and reliable individuals.
Man of the people: A leader or figure who is perceived as representing the interests of ordinary citizens.
Small people: (Often used playfully or dismissively) Children or those perceived as less significant.
To people a place: To inhabit or populate an area.
A people's choice: Something that is selected or favored by the general public.
The common people: Ordinary citizens; the general populace.
Talk of the people: General gossip or public discussion.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of people from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
