GIF: How do you pronounce it?

[rumborak]

Apparently this is/was a discussion topic: https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/22/tech/web/pronounce-gif/index.html?c=tech

Can't say I've ever heard anybody pronounce it Jif though.

[black_biff_stadler]

(ghiff), it ain't fuckin peanut butter.

[lonestar]

(ghiff), it ain't fuckin peanut butter.

[Cedar redaC]

Ghiff, it ain't no mechanic garage chain.

[73109]

It is pronounced like the peanut butter...according to those who created the damn thing. I'd say that is a pretty good indicator.

[black_biff_stadler]

It is pronounced like the peanut butter...according to those who created the damn thing. I'd say that is a pretty good indicator.

For Christmas this year should I get you a sweater or a jift card?

[BlobVanDam]

I say JIF out of habit, even though I accept that GIF is the correct answer.

[black_biff_stadler]

Choosy moms choose .gif

[TioJorge]

G.

[robwebster]

Soft G. Gif like "gin," "Gibraltar," and "gee-i-eff." Never a hard G like giggle, gaggle or goose.

[Eldomm]

In Italy everybody pronounces "jif".

[Implode]

I say JIF.

Both are correct. The creators of the format meant it to be pronounced "jif" as a reference to the peanut butter brand on purpose. But lots of people pronounce many words differently than how the original speakers intended, so that doesn't quite confirm that. It stands for Graphics Interchange Format, so it should be the same sound as the G in graphics, right? What about the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), then? We say GATS like Gatsby, not GATS like jaguar. So that argument is out of the window too.

Conclusion, both are correct. There is no point in arguing.

Hank says it better than me.

Edit: From wikipedia:

The creators of the format pronounced GIF with a soft "G" /ˈdʒɪf/ as in "gin". According to Steve Wilhite, the creator of the GIF format, the intended pronunciation deliberately echoes the American peanut butter brand, Jif, and CompuServe employees would often say "Choosy developers choose GIF", spoofing this brand's television commercials. As of 2013, Wilhite remains annoyed that there is debate over the pronunciation. On May 21, 2013, while receiving a lifetime achievement award at the 17th Annual Webby Awards Whilhite confirmed that it is, indeed, pronounced “JIF”, like the peanut butter.

An alternative pronunciation with a hard "G" /ˈɡɪf/ as in "graphics", reflecting the expanded acronym, is in widespread usage. Both pronunciations are acknowledged by the Oxford English Dictionary and the American Heritage Dictionary.

[black_biff_stadler]

Implode, you're some kind of wonderful

[wasteland]

Djif. The D is silent.

[Bolsters]

I've never heard anyone call it a "jiff" before. I'm in the "giff" camp.

[masterthes]

gif

[Nekov]

I've never heard anyone call it a "jiff" before. I'm in the "giff" camp.

[Zydar]

I've never heard anyone call it a "jiff" before. I'm in the "giff" camp.

Yeah. I've never even considered the possibility of it being pronounced "jiff". Maybe it's because English isn't my first language.

[?]

I've never heard anyone call it a "jiff" before. I'm in the "giff" camp.

Yeah. I've never even considered the possibility of it being pronounced "jiff". Maybe it's because English isn't my first language.

[XJDenton]

With a hard G.

[snapple]

jif because it's the correct way to pronounce it. And I ain't no ignorant son of a gun.


*vanishes*

[Manolito Mystiq]

I pronounce it with a [g].

GIMP, the program, I used to pronounce ‘jimp’ (dʒImp), though.

[Kotowboy]

Like Biff.

As in Butthead.

[Kotowboy]

This is Jif :

[senecadawg2]

And now I feel stupid too. Just been saying each letter individually like an acronym, figured there was no need to worry about the pronunciation.

Nice g i f!

[Tick]

[Nick]

I say JIF out of habit, even though I accept that GIF is the correct answer.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

I say gif.  I pronounce the "g" the same way you would if you were to say "graphics interchange format".  Given that, I'm struggling to understand how the creator says it should be pronounced "jif".  That would be "jraphics interchange format".

[BlobVanDam]

I say gif.  I pronounce the "g" the same way you would if you were to say "graphics interchange format".  Given that, I'm struggling to understand how the creator says it should be pronounced "jif".  That would be "jraphics interchange format".

No it wouldn't. There's no rule that you have to use the same consonant (or vowel) sounds when reading an acronym. It becomes its own "word".

Given that the original creator intends it to be "jif", I'm changing me mind that I consider "gif" the more correct option. I'm now glad I've been pronouncing it as intended all this time.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

No it wouldn't. There's no rule that you have to use the same consonant (or vowel) sounds when reading an acronym. It becomes its own "word".

There is an often overlooked rule regarding this very thing in the Little, Brown handbook, Chapter 35, Abbreviations.  Known informally as the "Because I said so" rule.

[BlobVanDam]

No it wouldn't. There's no rule that you have to use the same consonant (or vowel) sounds when reading an acronym. It becomes its own "word".

There is an often overlooked rule regarding this very thing in the Little, Brown handbook, Chapter 35, Abbreviations.  Known informally as the "Because I said so" rule.

If we're going with the "because I said so" rule, then I'll go with the "because I said so" of the creator.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

That's the beauty of the "Because I said so" rule.  Its vast amount of interprative power.  The creator can eat a bowl of dicks.  Why?  "Because I said so".  Same reason he's wrong about how to pronounce it and why I am simultaneously wrong about it as well.  Because somebody said so.  Clear as mud? 

[Kotowboy]

I pronounce it Giff because of Gift.

There's no word that starts Jif... and a Gift is not a Jift.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

In other gif news, back in the mid 90's, when not everybody had internet and we still logged on to bulletin boards, via aour 14.4 modems, gifs were pretty much the main type of pic file available.  However, our computer had no suitable viewer or gif files and it wasn't as easy as going to cnet or doing a Google search to find a viewer.  We had a program called gif2exe.  It did what it says.  Turned your gif into an executable file.  You'd run the exe and the gif would come up on the screen.

[El Barto]

As someone with a name that's always mispronounced because of a soft G, I'd just like to point out that the English language sucks donkey cocks.