Guy

/ɡaɪ/

nounBeginnerVery CommonGeneral

Definitions

2 meanings
1

A man or boy; a male person.

/ɡaɪ/

nounneutralBeginner
General

A man or boy.

That guy is really good at video games.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're pointing someone out to a friend. 'Hey, who's that *guy* over there?'. It's just a simple way to say 'man' or 'person'.

👶 For kids: A guy is a boy or a man.

More Examples

2

I saw a guy walking his dog in the park.

3

He's a nice guy.

How It's Used

General conversation

"That guy over there is really funny."

Sports

"He's a good guy to have on your team."

2

A person, often used in a group to address any gender.

/ɡaɪ/

nounneutralBeginner
General

A person (used for any gender).

Hey guys, what are we doing tonight?

💡 Simply: Imagine you're talking to a group of friends. You can call everyone '*guys*' even if there are girls and boys there. It's like saying 'everyone'.

👶 For kids: Guys can mean boys, girls, and grown-ups too!

More Examples

2

Okay guys, let's start the meeting.

3

Thanks for coming, guys.

How It's Used

Informal group context

"Hey guys, let's go out for dinner."

Tip:When addressing a group, 'guys' is often used regardless of the gender mix.

Idioms & expressions

good guy

A kind, helpful, and morally good person.

"He's a good guy, always willing to help."

nice guy

A friendly and pleasant person.

"He seems like a nice guy to have as a neighbor."

Originates from the name Guy Fawkes, a participant in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 in England, historically referring to an effigy of him burned on Bonfire Night. Over time, it evolved to refer to a man or a person, and then to any person.

Originally derived from 'Guy Fawkes', it became a generic term for 'man' in the 19th century and beyond.

Memory tip

Think of your male friend – he's a 'guy'.

guigai

Usage

85%Spoken
15%Written