# How do I pronounce "GAU"(The Air Force designation prefix for aircraft guns)?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-pronounce-gau-the-air-force-designation-prefix-for-aircraft-guns/675048>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 29, 2013, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-pronounce-gau-the-air-force-designation-prefix-for-aircraft-guns/675048 "2013-11-29T03:22:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-pronounce-gau-the-air-force-designation-prefix-for-aircraft-guns/675048/1 "2013-11-29T03:22:36Z")

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Quickie question that I’m surprised I don’t know for sure—what’s the correct way to pronounce the type designator “GAU”—it stands for “Gun, Air Unit,” it seems—as used by the US military for various gun systems? e.g. the [GAU-8](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GAU-8_Avenger) or the [GAU-19](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GAU-19)—or even the [GAU-5](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAR-15#CAR-15_Commando_.28XM177.2FGAU-5_series.29), which was a carbine.

The only two possibilities I can imagine would be “Gow” or “Gee-Ay-You.” I’m rather partial to the former, but I just don’t know for sure. Can anyone weigh in?

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**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-pronounce-gau-the-air-force-designation-prefix-for-aircraft-guns/675048/2 "2013-11-29T10:13:23Z")

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Everyone I heard speak said ‘jee-ay-yoo’

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**Author:** ![wedgehed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@wedgehed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgehed)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-pronounce-gau-the-air-force-designation-prefix-for-aircraft-guns/675048/3 "2013-11-29T16:43:43Z")

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Things may have changed, but during my AF hitch (1977-1982) I heard it pronounced “gow”. I was at RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge during the transition from F-4Ds to A-10s.

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**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-pronounce-gau-the-air-force-designation-prefix-for-aircraft-guns/675048/4 "2013-11-29T17:06:15Z")

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I’m not military, but I pronounce it “gore”.