Learn English – What’s the difference between “bloke”, “chap” and “lad”

british-englishdifferencesnouns

Several synonyms are used in the UK: bloke, chap, lad. What's the difference between them?

Best Answer

Merriam-Webster says:

  1. bloke — "(British, informal) man, fellow"
  2. chap — "(British) fellow. Origin of chap: chapman"
  3. lad — "a male person of any age between early boyhood and maturity"

So, it seems, that lad can be related only to a young person. While chap and bloke to any male person.

My British fellow said:

Chap is more delicate; bloke is rougher a bit. Chap is posh, bloke is common.

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