What is the meaning of the Greek phrase "hoi polloi?"

Correct answer: The great masses of ordinary people

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What people think about it: 11 Comments
I am not a number.
I am not a number.
So when talking about "the hoi polloi" we are really saying "the the people".
SOS
SOS
I grew up thinking hoi polloi meant the elite... I must be a product of the 1950s hahaha lol
Anna J
Anna J
I loved learning about this word!
Terry
Terry
we are all masses of ordinary people
hi
hi
Brandywine, hoity toity used to mean someone who tried to take on the mannerisms of a class above them. Usually within distain of their own class.
Anjo
Anjo
Brandywine, no it’s not pronounced like that . I am Greek .We don’t pronounce h at the beginning of the word
Artie
Artie
I learned Latin in school and also a smattering of Greek.
Brandywine
Brandywine
It is pronounced exactly how it is spelled. "Hoy Puh-loy". I do wonder if it has anything to do with "Hoity Toity" which I think is the opposite. 😂
Cinker
Cinker
How is this pronounced?
flr
flr
I remember that from George Orwell's 1984.
antzuzu
antzuzu
Then, where did riff-raff come from!?