joes
C1Informal, colloquial, sometimes derogatory. The plural form of the name is standard; the slang meaning for 'coffee' is archaic.
Definition
Meaning
The plural of the proper name 'Joe', typically referring to more than one man or boy named Joe.
Informal, often derogatory: ordinary men; average blokes. (From the common name Joe). Slang (chiefly US): coffee (archaic).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a plural proper noun, its primary meaning is referential. The informal sense ('ordinary men') is a countable plural common noun derived from the generic use of the name. The slang for 'coffee' is uncountable and largely obsolete.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The informal sense meaning 'average men' is understood in both but slightly more common in British usage (cf. 'blokes'). The slang for 'coffee' (a cup of joe) is exclusively American in origin, though the term 'joe' for coffee is recognized in the UK.
Connotations
In the 'average men' sense, it often carries a mildly dismissive or patronising tone.
Frequency
As a plural name, frequency is low and context-dependent. The 'average men' sense is rare. The coffee sense is not used in the plural.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Determiner] + Joes + [Verb in plural form]Adjective (ordinary/average) + joesVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Average Joes”
- “Just a couple of Joes”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Very rare, except in casual reference to colleagues named Joe.
Academic
Not used in academic writing except as a proper noun.
Everyday
Used informally to refer to multiple people named Joe, or humorously/derogatorily to ordinary men.
Technical
No technical usage.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There are two boys in my class called Joe. They are both named Joes.
- I know three Joes.
- At the reunion, I saw the three Joes I went to school with.
- The team has two players named Joe, so we call them 'the Joes'.
- The policy isn't designed for experts; it's for average joes who just want a simple solution.
- He felt out of place at the fancy party, saying he was just there with the other ordinary joes.
- The marketing campaign successfully appealed not to the elite, but to the everyday joes concerned with value.
- The political commentator dismissed the protesters as a bunch of angry joes with no coherent agenda.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of several cups of 'joe' (coffee) lined up for several 'Joes' (men). Many Joes drink joe.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMON MAN IS A COMMON NAME (Joe as the archetype of ordinariness).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with the singular possessive 'Joe's' (Джо).
- The plural form does not change in spelling but the pronunciation adds /z/.
- 'Average joes' should not be translated literally as 'средние Джо' but as 'простые парни', 'обычные люди'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'joes' as a singular noun (e.g., 'He is a joes').
- Confusing the plural of the name with the uncountable slang for coffee ('I'd like two joes' is incorrect for coffee).
- Misspelling as 'Joe's' when plural is intended.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'joes' used as a plural common noun?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As the plural of the proper name 'Joe', yes. As an informal term for 'ordinary men', it is colloquial but recognized. As slang for coffee, it is archaic and not used in the plural.
No. The slang for coffee is 'joe' (uncountable). You would say 'two cups of joe', not 'two joes'.
'Joes' is the plural of Joe (more than one person named Joe). 'Joe's' is the possessive, meaning 'belonging to Joe' (e.g., Joe's car).
It can be mildly patronising or dismissive, implying a lack of sophistication or special status. It is informal and context-dependent.