You guys
Meaning: An informal way to address a group of people, regardless of gender.
'You guys' fills the gap left by English's lack of a standard second-person plural pronoun. In most of the US (outside the South, where 'y'all' dominates), 'you guys' is the default way to address a group. Despite containing 'guys,' it's widely used for mixed-gender and all-female groups, though some prefer gender-neutral alternatives.
Examples
- Hey, you guys want to grab lunch? 嘿,你们想去吃午饭吗?Oye, ¿queréis ir a comer?ねえ、みんなランチ行かない?야, 너네 점심 먹으러 갈래?
- Are you guys coming to the party on Saturday? 你们周六来派对吗?¿Venís a la fiesta del sábado?みんな土曜のパーティー来る?너네 토요일 파티 올 거야?
- What are you guys up to this weekend? 你们这周末打算干嘛?¿Qué hacéis este fin de semana?みんな今週末何するの?너네 이번 주말에 뭐 해?
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: addressing groups, friends, casual settings
Tone: friendly, inclusive
✓ Do Say
- You guys ready to go?你们准备好出发了吗?¿Estáis listos para irnos?みんな、行く準備できた?너네 갈 준비됐어?
- Do you guys have plans tonight?你们今晚有什么安排吗?¿Tenéis planes para esta noche?みんな今夜予定ある?너네 오늘 밤 계획 있어?
✗ Don't Say
- Avoid in formal presentations — 'you guys' in a boardroom sounds too casual在正式演示中避免使用——在会议室里说'you guys'显得太随便了Evítalo en presentaciones formales — 'you guys' en una sala de juntas suena demasiado informalフォーマルなプレゼンでは避けること——会議室で「you guys」はカジュアルすぎる격식 있는 발표에서는 피할 것 — 회의실에서 'you guys'는 너무 캐주얼하게 들린다
Origin & History
Derived from 'guy' (originally from Guy Fawkes). By the mid-20th century, 'you guys' became the standard informal plural 'you' in most American dialects, particularly in the North and West.
Cultural Context
Era: Mid-20th century onwards
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Most common in the North and West. The South prefers 'y'all,' while some areas use 'youse' or 'you all'
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