# guy

/ˈɡaɪ/ (US) · /ɡˈaɪ/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Noun

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

## Definition

a man or a boy. In the plural form, people often use it to address a group of friends, regardless of their gender.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is a good guys." but "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.

## Usage notes

- In the plural, 'guys' is frequently used as a gender-neutral term of address in informal speech.

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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.