Bumpkin: meaning, definitions and examples

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bumpkin

 

[ ˈbʌmpkɪn ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

person

An unsophisticated or awkward person from a rural area; a yokel.

Synonyms

hayseed, rube, yokel.

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Word Description / Examples
bumpkin

This word is typically used to refer to someone from a rural area who is perceived as unsophisticated or lacking social graces. It can carry a slight negative connotation, suggesting naivety or ignorance.

  • He's such a bumpkin; he doesn't even know how to use a smartphone!
  • Don't act like a bumpkin at the city event; try to blend in more.
yokel

This term is also used disparagingly to describe someone from the countryside who is unsophisticated or uneducated. It often implies a lack of worldly experience and can be quite insulting.

  • They laughed at the yokel's strange accent and clothes.
  • She felt like a yokel in the big city, with everyone staring at her.
hayseed

Often used in a derogatory manner to describe a person from a countryside, implying they are simple-minded or unrefined. It emphasizes the rural, farming background of the person.

  • They called him a hayseed because of his old-fashioned way of thinking.
  • The city folks dismissed him as a hayseed, but he was actually quite smart.
rube

'Rube' is a derogatory term for someone from a rural area who is considered unsophisticated or easily fooled. It commonly implies that the person is naive and gullible.

  • That guy is such a rube; he fell for every scam they threw at him.
  • Don't be a rube, check the facts before you believe anything.

Examples of usage

  • He may look like a bumpkin, but he's actually a talented musician.
  • Don't be fooled by his bumpkin appearance, he's quite smart.
Context #2 | Noun

slang

A person who is perceived as ignorant or unsophisticated, often used as an insult.

Synonyms

hick, hillbilly, redneck.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
bumpkin

This word is used to refer to someone from a rural area who is perceived as unsophisticated or simple-minded. It often has a humorous or slightly pejorative tone.

  • Everyone in the big city thought of Tom as a bumpkin because he didn't know how to navigate the subway system
hick

This word is often used in a derogatory sense to refer to someone from the countryside who lacks sophistication and is seen as uncultured. It implies a certain level of ignorance or backwardness.

  • They mocked her for being a hick just because she grew up on a farm and didn't know much about city life
redneck

This slang term is used to describe rural, working-class white people, particularly from the Southern United States. It's frequently used in a derogatory way to suggest a lack of sophistication and a particular set of conservative attitudes.

  • He was often called a redneck because of his pickup truck, country music, and outspoken political views
hillbilly

This term specifically refers to people from mountainous or rural areas, particularly in the Appalachian region. It carries a strong stereotype of being unschooled and primitive, and is generally offensive.

  • The movie portrayed the characters as hillbillies living in a remote mountain cabin

Examples of usage

  • Don't be such a bumpkin, try to act more refined.
  • She's always making fun of him for being a bumpkin.

Translations

Translations of the word "bumpkin" in other languages:

🇵🇹 caipira

🇮🇳 गाँववाला

🇩🇪 Bauerntölpel

🇮🇩 orang desa

🇺🇦 селюк

🇵🇱 wieśniak

🇯🇵 田舎者 (inakamono)

🇫🇷 péquenaud

🇪🇸 paleto

🇹🇷 köylü

🇰🇷 시골뜨기 (sigoltteugi)

🇸🇦 فلاح

🇨🇿 venkovan

🇸🇰 vidiečan

🇨🇳 乡巴佬 (xiāng bā lǎo)

🇸🇮 kmetavz

🇮🇸 sveitamaður

🇰🇿 ауылдық

🇬🇪 სოფლელი

🇦🇿 kəndli

🇲🇽 paleto

Etymology

The word 'bumpkin' originated in the late 16th century and is believed to have come from the Middle Dutch word 'bommekijn', meaning a small cask or vessel. Over time, it evolved to refer to a person from a rural area, often with connotations of being unsophisticated or simple. The term has been used in English literature and colloquial speech to describe individuals perceived as being naive or uncultured.

See also: bump, bumping, bumpy.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #34,655 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.