Collocations with people are natural word combinations that native English speakers use automatically when discussing human interactions and relationships. These partnerships create authentic, fluent expression that goes beyond individual word meanings and form the foundation of natural-sounding English. Mastering these collocations with people transforms your communication from textbook-correct to genuinely native-like, enabling you to express subtle distinctions in meaning while avoiding awkward phrasing that often results from direct translation.

Mastering Collocations with People: Speak English More Naturally

I. What is People?
II. Compilation of common collocations with People
III. Exercises on collocations with People
1. 1. Exercise: Choose the correct answer
2. 2. Answer

I. What is People?

People is pronounced as /ˈpiː.pəl/ and means: human beings in general or considered collectively. Understanding how to use collocations with people properly helps you communicate more effectively in both spoken and written English. For example:

Firms need to keep investing both in infrastructure and their people.
The French are known as a food-loving people.

II. Compilation of common collocations with People

To help you learn collocations with people effectively and easily, PREP has compiled over 75 commonly used collocations with people along with their meanings and specific examples. These collocations with people cover various categories including verbs, adjectives, and quantifiers that naturally pair with "people." Refer to them now!

1. Verb + People Collocations

No.	Collocation	Meaning	Example
1	help people	to give assistance or support to make something easier or possible for others	The charity helps people find affordable housing in the city.
2	assist people	to help somebody, especially in a formal or professional context	Customer service representatives assist people with technical problems.
3	support people	to give encouragement, approval, or help to others	The organization supports people recovering from addiction.
4	serve people	to provide a service or assistance to others, often in a professional capacity	Nurses serve people with dedication and compassion.
5	care for people	to look after and protect others, providing for their needs	Social workers care for people in vulnerable situations.
6	lead people	to be in charge of or guide a group toward a goal	Effective managers lead people through challenging projects.
7	guide people	to show others the way or give advice and direction	Career counselors guide people toward suitable job opportunities.
8	manage people	to be responsible for controlling or organizing others' work	Team leaders manage people across different departments.
9	influence people	to have an effect on others' behavior, opinions, or decisions	Politicians influence people through their speeches and policies.
10	inspire people	to give others the feeling of wanting to do something creative or worthwhile	Great teachers inspire people to pursue lifelong learning.
11	motivate people	to make others feel enthusiastic about doing something	Coaches motivate people to achieve their athletic goals.
12	encourage people	to give others confidence or hope to do something	Parents encourage people, especially their children, to follow their dreams.
13	teach people	to give others knowledge or skills through instruction	Universities teach people specialized knowledge in various fields.
14	train people	to prepare others for a particular job or activity through practice	Companies train people to use new software systems effectively.
15	educate people	to provide others with knowledge and understanding	Museums educate people about history and culture.
16	employ people	to give work to others in exchange for payment	Growing businesses employ people with diverse skill sets.
17	hire people	to employ others for a job, usually after a selection process	Restaurants hire people during busy holiday seasons.
18	interview people	to ask others formal questions to assess their suitability	HR departments interview people for management positions.
19	recruit people	to find and attract others to join an organization	Military forces recruit people from various backgrounds.
20	represent people	to speak or act on behalf of others' interests	Lawyers represent people in legal proceedings.
21	meet people	to encounter or be introduced to others for the first time	Networking events help professionals meet people in their industry.
22	greet people	to welcome others in a friendly way when meeting them	Hotel staff greet people warmly at the reception desk.
23	talk to people	to have a conversation with others	Successful salespeople know how to talk to people effectively.
24	speak with people	to communicate with others, often in a formal context	Mediators speak with people to resolve conflicts peacefully.
25	listen to people	to pay attention to what others are saying	Good leaders listen to people before making important decisions.
26	understand people	to comprehend others' feelings, thoughts, or motivations	Therapists understand people through active listening and empathy.
27	connect with people	to form relationships or bonds with others	Social media platforms help users connect with people worldwide.
28	gather people	to bring others together in one place	Event organizers gather people for conferences and seminars.
29	unite people	to bring others together for a common purpose	Shared challenges often unite people from different backgrounds.
30	organize people	to arrange others into groups or coordinate their activities	Community leaders organize people for volunteer projects.

2. Adjective + People Collocations (Physical & Social Characteristics)

No.	Collocation	Meaning	Example
31	able-bodied people	individuals who have no physical disabilities or health problems	The gym is accessible to both able-bodied people and those with disabilities.
32	disabled people	individuals who have a physical or mental condition that limits their abilities	The organization advocates for the rights and inclusion of disabled people in society.
33	elderly people	individuals who are old, especially those who need special care	The retirement home provides specialized care for elderly people.
34	young people	individuals who are in their teens or early twenties	Young people often embrace new technology more quickly than older generations.
35	middle-aged people	individuals who are between young and old, typically 40-60 years	Middle-aged people often face both career pressures and family responsibilities.
36	indigenous people	individuals who belong to the original population of a particular region	The government recognizes the land rights of indigenous people.
37	aboriginal people	the first people to live in a particular area, especially Australia	The museum exhibits artifacts from the culture of the aboriginal people.
38	nomadic people	individuals who move from place to place rather than living in one location	Nomadic people move from place to place in search of resources.
39	local people	individuals who live in or come from a particular area	Tourist guides often recommend restaurants popular with local people.
40	foreign people	individuals who come from another country	Cultural exchange programs help students interact with foreign people.

3. Adjective + People Collocations (Economic & Social Status)

No.	Collocation	Meaning	Example
41	wealthy people	individuals who have a large amount of money, property, or valuable possessions	Wealthy people often have access to resources and opportunities that others do not.
42	rich people	individuals who have a lot of money or valuable possessions	Rich people sometimes donate to charitable causes in their communities.
43	poor people	individuals who have little money or few possessions	Government programs aim to alleviate poverty and improve the lives of poor people.
44	low-income people	individuals who earn a small amount of money	The food bank provides assistance to low-income people in the community.
45	middle-income people	individuals who earn a moderate amount of money, neither rich nor poor	Middle-income people often struggle to afford housing in expensive cities.
46	homeless people	individuals who have no permanent place to live	Shelter organizations provide temporary housing for homeless people.
47	oppressed people	individuals who are treated harshly or unfairly by those in power	Throughout history, oppressed people have fought for their rights and freedom.
48	conquered people	individuals whose country or territory has been taken control of by force	The history books document the struggles of conquered people under colonial rule.
49	ordinary people	individuals who are not famous, powerful, or unusual in any way	The superhero movie depicts ordinary people rising up to save the world.
50	famous people	individuals who are well-known by many others	Magazines often publish interviews with famous people from entertainment industry.

4. Adjective + People Collocations (Personal Qualities & Abilities)

No.	Collocation	Meaning	Example
51	educated people	individuals who have received formal training or instruction	Educated people are more likely to pursue higher-paying careers.
52	well-educated people	individuals who have received a high level of formal education	Well-educated people are more likely to have successful careers and higher incomes.
53	intelligent people	individuals who have the ability to learn, understand, and think quickly	Intelligent people excel in problem-solving and critical thinking.
54	talented people	individuals who have natural ability or skill in a particular area	Talent shows showcase the skills and abilities of talented people.
55	creative people	individuals who have the ability to produce original ideas or artistic work	Advertising agencies actively recruit creative people for their marketing teams.
56	hard-working people	individuals who put a lot of effort into their work or activities	Hard-working people often achieve success through dedication and perseverance.
57	civilized people	individuals who behave in a polite and reasonable way	Civilized people always adhere to societal norms and values.
58	innocent people	individuals who are not guilty of a crime or wrongdoing	The lawyer fought to exonerate innocent people wrongfully accused of crimes.
59	sane people	individuals who are mentally healthy and able to think clearly	The psychiatrist evaluates the mental health of sane people as well as those with disorders.
60	like-minded people	individuals who have similar opinions, interests, or attitudes	Joining clubs and organizations is a great way to meet like-minded people.

5. Adjective + People Collocations (Character & Intentions)

No.	Collocation	Meaning	Example
61	well-intentioned people	individuals who want to be helpful or do good, even if they do not succeed	Well-intentioned people can sometimes make mistakes despite their good aims.
62	well-meaning people	individuals who intend to be helpful or kind, though they may not always succeed	Well-meaning people often strive to make positive contributions to society.
63	professional people	individuals who work in jobs requiring special training or education	The neighborhood attracts many professional people working in downtown offices.
64	business people	individuals who work in commerce or trade	International conferences bring together business people from various industries.
65	important people	individuals who have significant influence or authority	Security protocols are especially strict when important people visit government buildings.

6. Quantifier + People and Noun + People Collocations

No.	Collocation	Meaning	Example
66	many people	a large number of individuals	Many people prefer online shopping for its convenience and variety.
67	few people	a small number of individuals	Few people understand the complexities of quantum physics.
68	several people	more than two but not very many individuals	Several people volunteered to help organize the community festival.
69	some people	an unspecified number of individuals, usually not all	Some people find classical music relaxing while others prefer jazz.
70	most people	the majority of individuals in a group	Most people check their smartphones multiple times throughout the day.
71	all people	every individual without exception	The universal declaration states that all people deserve equal rights.
72	hundreds of people	a very large number of individuals, specifically several hundred	Hundreds of people gathered in the town square to protest against the new policy.
73	group of people	a number of individuals who are together or have something in common	The tour guide addressed a large group of people at the museum entrance.
74	crowd of people	a large number of individuals gathered together in a public place	A crowd of people gathered to watch the street performance in the city center.
75	team of people	a group of individuals working together toward a common goal	The research project required a dedicated team of people with specialized skills.

For more collocations with people, access the link below!

EXPLORE MORE COLLOCATIONS WITH PEOPLE ON CAMBRIDGE DICTIONARY!

III. Exercises on collocations with People

To have a better understanding of collocations with people, let's complete the exercise section below with PREP! These practice exercises will help you master the most important collocations with people in various contexts.

1. Exercise: Choose the correct answer

The hiking trail is accessible to _______, offering challenging terrain and stunning views for outdoor enthusiasts.
1. Able-bodied people
2. Hard-working people
3. Hundreds of people
The museum exhibit showcases the rich cultural heritage of _______, featuring traditional art, artifacts, and oral histories.
1. Hard-working people
2. Aboriginal people
3. Innocent people
Historians study the daily lives and customs of _______ in ancient civilizations to understand the development of societies and cultures.
1. Aboriginal people
2. Like-minded people
3. Civilized people
The _______ were subjected to harsh treatment and forced labor by the invading army, leading to widespread suffering and displacement.
1. Conquered people
2. Middle-income people
3. Nomadic people
The organization advocates for the rights and inclusion of _______ in society, promoting accessibility and equal opportunities for all individuals regardless of ability.
1. Sane people
2. Disabled people
3. Well-intentioned people

2. Answer

1 - A

2 - B

3 - A

4 - C

5 - B

Understanding collocations with people unlocks natural, fluent English that sounds authentic to native speakers. These word partnerships form the foundation of effective communication about human relationships and social interactions. Practice using these collocations with people in daily conversation and writing to immediately improve how natural and professional your English sounds.

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Mastering Collocations with People: Speak English More Naturally

I. What is People?