fella

noun

fel·​la ˈfe-lə 

variants or less commonly feller

ˈfe-lər 

plural fellas also fellers

informal : fellow sense 4c, man sense 1a(1)

a nice fella

"The fella who does the windows here sometimes puts a striped shirt with a striped tie and a striped suit …"

—Teri Agins

A fella who accepts himself and is relaxed into who he is—that appeals to people.

—Rebecca Winters Keegan

Moments when a feller needs a friend and so forth.

—P. G. Wodehouse

Gunnysack Johnson observed that "nobody can talk as interestingly as the feller that's not hampered by facts or information."

—Jim Reed

Synonyms

• bastard
• bloke [chiefly British]
• buck
• cat
• chap [chiefly British]
• chappie [British]
• dude
• fellow
• galoot [slang]
• gent
• gentleman
• guy
• hombre
• jack
• joe
• joker
• lad
• male
• man

Examples of fella in a Sentence

He's not a bad fella.

She has a new fella.

Recent Examples on the Web

Meet the fellas: Peach and Blossom are receiving this year’s honor. —Cate Martel, The Hill, 25 Nov. 2024

But Steinbrenner was a big fella from Cleveland who brought a New York swagger to a fan base that for generations expected nothing but the best. —Steve Buckley, The Athletic, 22 Aug. 2024

Bombas are one of the most popular presents for men this year, and these gripper slippers have been wish-listed by all the fellas in our lives. —Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 2 Dec. 2024

Best Men's Shoe Deals For the fellas, the Amazon Fashion Outlet footwear deals are equally incredible. —Erica Paige, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

alteration of fellow

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined above