Word
guy
Phoneticsguy
US/ˈɡaɪ/
UK/ɡˈaɪ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a man or a boy. In the plural form, people often use it to address a group of friends, regardless of their gender.
n. a man or male person. In the plural, it functions as a gender-neutral vocative to address a group of people in informal contexts.
Examples
“That guy over there is my brother.”
“I met a guy at the conference who works for the same company as you do.”
“While the term originally referred specifically to males, modern usage has shifted so that a speaker might address a room of women by saying 'you guys' without causing any confusion.”
Examples
simple
“That guy over there is my brother.”
contextual
“I met a guy at the conference who works for the same company as you do.”
complex
“While the term originally referred specifically to males, modern usage has shifted so that a speaker might address a room of women by saying 'you guys' without causing any confusion.”
Usage
In the plural, 'guys' is frequently used as a gender-neutral term of address in informal speech.
Pitfall
He is a good guys.
He is a good guy.
Learners sometimes use the plural form 'guys' when referring to a single person because they hear the plural used so frequently in greetings.
Etymology
PIE word *dwóh₁ From Old French Gui, a form of Proto-Germanic Wido, a short form of names beginning with the element widuz (“wood”), such as Witold and Widukind. Cognate with Italian Guido and thus a doublet of Guido. More at wood.
From the Hebrew name גַּיְא (gáy, literally “valley”), with the spelling influenced by the existing English name.
For places which could be from either etymology above.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/guy