# How do you pronounce "GIF"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 11, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417 "2009-02-11T20:28:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/41 "2009-02-12T08:15:50Z")
> [@PopeJewish](#): > > hard G > > am I alone in pronouncing “PNG” like “ping”? > …probably Sort of, but instead of “ping” I say something like “p’ng” with a very light schwa vowel where the apostrophe is. Like “pung” but with less “uh”. I’m sort of literal that way. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/42 "2009-02-12T13:58:03Z")
In English, there are guidelines as to how to pronounce the letter g. When it’s followed by e, i or y, it’s pronounced as a soft g, as long as the word is two syllables long or more. When the word is one syllable long, it’s a hard g no matter what letter follows the g. (‘Gym’ looks like an exception to the rule, but it’s not - it’s just short for gymnasium). Since this is an acronym, being pronounced as a word not by the letters being spelt out, I’d expect it to be pronounced gif with a hard g. The makers can, of course, say that they intended it to be pronounced with a soft g, but they could also, if they wanted, say that they wanted it to be pronounced heffalump or earwax. The spelling of the acronym goes against their intentions. ---
**Author:** ![Vihaga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Vihaga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vihaga)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/43 "2009-02-12T16:14:59Z")
Hard g. I’ve never even heard someone pronounce it with a soft g. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/44 "2009-02-12T16:21:59Z")
The soft G pronunciation actually makes my skin crawl. When someone uses it it’s like I’ve overheard them talking smoochy language to their loved one. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/45 "2009-02-12T16:27:42Z")
I naturally tend to say it with a soft G, but I am finding that perhaps I need to change my ways. Narrator, the voice-to-text applet that comes with Windows, pronounces it with a hard G. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/46 "2009-02-12T16:44:49Z")
I don’t pronounce it “giff.” I pronounce it _ **GIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFF.** _ ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/47 "2009-02-12T19:22:51Z")
> [@scifisam2009](#): > > In English, there are guidelines as to how to pronounce the letter g. When it’s followed by e, i or y, it’s pronounced as a soft g, as long as the word is two syllables long or more. When the word is one syllable long, it’s a hard g no matter what letter follows the g. (‘Gym’ looks like an exception to the rule, but it’s not - it’s just short for gymnasium). So, not a gin drinker?😉 ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/48 "2009-02-12T20:17:56Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > So, not a gin drinker?😉 😃 That’s why I used the word ‘guideline,’ not rule. (Though it might be because it came from a longer word originally, or because the name comes from juniper berries). There are always a couple of exceptions - someone else (or maybe you) mentioned gist, too. It’s still a useful guideline for learners of English, or for when people come across an unfamiliar word, or for neologisms - such as GIF (an acronym that counts as a new word). And no, not a gin drinker. For some reason, it makes me really depressed. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/49 "2009-02-12T20:36:22Z")
> [@scifisam2009](#): > > And no, not a gin drinker. For some reason, it makes me really depressed. This thread does it for me. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/50 "2009-02-12T20:42:25Z")
> [@scifisam2009](#): > > And no, not a gin drinker. For some reason, it makes me really depressed. Well, it is a depressant. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/51 "2009-02-12T20:59:27Z")
I always just pick one, then I pause and say jif or gif, which is it? Then I use whatever the customer uses. If he says he doesn’t know, I use whichever I picked first. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/52 "2009-02-13T15:13:49Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > So, not a gin drinker?😉 I begin to see your point. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/53 "2009-02-13T18:01:40Z")
=gift =Bo =((never heard of “Prix Fixe” or whatever you said)) ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/54 "2009-02-13T23:18:42Z")
> [@scifisam2009](#): > > 😃 > > That’s why I used the word ‘guideline,’ not rule. (Though it might be because it came from a longer word originally, or because the name comes from juniper berries). There are always a couple of exceptions - someone else (or maybe you) mentioned gist, too. > > It’s still a useful guideline for learners of English, or for when people come across an unfamiliar word, or for neologisms - such as GIF (an acronym that counts as a new word). > > And no, not a gin drinker. For some reason, it makes me really depressed. Did anyone make the joke to themselves: “jideline?” (Guideline with a soft G sound) 🙂 I’ll slink away now, since I’m probably the only one. By the way, jin is actually my favorite liquor. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/55 "2009-02-14T00:56:30Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > Sort of, but instead of “ping” I say something like “p’ng” with a very light schwa vowel where the apostrophe is. Like “pung” but with less “uh”. > > I’m sort of literal that way. 🙂 Do you like the Sony Poospé? ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/cBK-06C-mpQ/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/cBK-06C-mpQ?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/56 "2009-02-14T01:33:42Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > Did anyone make the joke to themselves: “jideline?” (Guideline with a soft G sound) 🙂 I’ll slink away now, since I’m probably the only one. By the way, jin is actually my favorite liquor. That’s why there’s a ‘u’ in ‘guideline’. It insulates the ‘g’ from the ‘i’ and prevents it from going soft. The ‘u’ in ‘guest’ functions similarly. 'G" is hard before ‘o’, ‘u’, and ‘a’. It’s soft before ‘i’ and ‘e’. (Don’t ask me about ‘y’.) Yet another no-longer-necessary spelling convention borrowed from the romance languages or somewhere. Now that we have the letter ‘j’, we no no longer need to have a ‘g’ that goes soft. And as for PNG, I say ‘pinj’. But that makes little sense, even for me. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/57 "2009-02-14T02:39:25Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > Did anyone make the joke to themselves: “jideline?” (Guideline with a soft G sound) 🙂 I’ll slink away now, since I’m probably the only one. By the way, jin is actually my favorite liquor. Well, guideline wouldn’t count anyway, since it has more than one syllable. But Sunspace already explained why guide (one syllable) isn’t pronounced with a soft g: it’s not followed immediately by an e, i or y (like I said before), so it wouldn’t go against what I posted. I agree in some ways that’s it’s a spelling convention that’s no longer needed, but it certainly is one we currently have and it helps us know how to pronounce things in a way that other people will know what we mean. According to [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com), gin is shortened from ginever (which was my original guess - hey, ‘guess,’ there’s another one where’s there’s an extra u for pronunciation reasons!) Gist is still a good example of an exception, but hey, it wouldn’t be English without exceptions! It’s probably because it has French origins; if it had been more commonly used, it might have changed spelling. Or maybe there are more complicated reasons behind it; I’m happy to accept that it’s just English being a mish-mash whose ingredients and origins are more diverse than a tikka masala. ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/58 "2009-02-14T03:08:39Z")
> [@scifisam2009](#): > > That’s why I used the word ‘guideline,’ not rule. (Though it might be because it came from a longer word originally, or because the name comes from juniper berries). There are always a couple of exceptions - someone else (or maybe you) mentioned gist, too. Gibe and gill (liquid measure) are other more-or-less common exceptions. “Ge-” yields many counterexamples, including gee, gel, gem, and germ. I don’t think the one-syllable rule works even as a guideline. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/59 "2009-02-14T21:33:10Z")
|gɪf| Like “gift” w/o the\* t.\* Intuitive, as |dʒɪf| could be spelled “JIF,” so |gif| is clearer. And it stands for Graphics Interchange Format, so |g|, |ɪ|, |f| are the initial phonemes. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417/60 "2009-02-14T21:34:27Z")
> [@Hi\_Neighbor](#): > > Also, what about “beau?” As in, “That’s her beau.” Also spelled “beaux” sometimes. “beaux” |boz| is the plural of “beau” |bo|. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-gif/485417.md?page=4)