# Herbert

/ˈhɝbɝt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/herbert
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a foolish person

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang · Informal

a person who is silly, annoying, or not very important.

For teachers: a mildly derogatory term for a foolish, insignificant, or socially awkward individual.

- Don't listen to him; he's just some herbert who doesn't know what he's talking about.
- The manager dismissed the complaint, viewing the customer as just another annoying herbert with too much time on his hands.

Usage: Usually used with 'some' or 'a bit of a'.

Teaching tip: This term is somewhat dated and primarily British; it is less aggressive than 'idiot' but still dismissive.

### 2. a working-class youth

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang · Informal

a young man from a working-class background, often seen as unrefined.

For teachers: a slang term for a working-class youth, typically implying a lack of sophistication or a tendency toward minor trouble.

- A group of local herberts were hanging around the shopping centre all afternoon.
- The film depicts the lives of suburban herberts in the 1970s, capturing their fashion and rebellious attitudes.

Teaching tip: Often carries a class-based connotation; use with caution as it can sound patronising.

## Examples

- Don't be such a Herbert and just ask her for help.
- The office was full of boring Herberts who only ever talked about their spreadsheets and weekend gardening.
- He was often dismissed as a harmless Herbert by his peers, though his quiet exterior masked a sharp, observant mind that missed very little of the social dynamics at play.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.