Since time immemorial, there have been various hot topics of discussion. Yes, we can go and talk about literally anything, isn’t it? Sometimes, we keep arguing even over ridiculous stuff. By the way you must have surely heard about GIF, the image format! Well, do you actually know how the word is pronounced? Some pronounce as ‘GIF i.e. like Gift and some pronounce it like ‘JIF’.
How to actually pronounce it?
Well, the way you are pronouncing it right now in your mind is correct. When anyone hears GIF for the 1st time, they tend to use hard G. Yes, it is same like the way you pronounce gift! The correct pronunciation is ‘GIFF’ and not ‘JIFF’. Next time, whenever you face a problem, just remember that you have to pronounce GIF like GIFT without ‘T’
Logical reason!
Whenever there is a ‘G’, followed by a vowel and then ‘F’, then the pronunciation is often with a hard G. Some examples of this include Guffaw, Guff, Gift, Gaffe. Then you might wonder if GIF is pronounced with a hard G, why Gem is pronounced with a soft G, even though there is a vowel after G? Well, this is because gem is a word developed from Gemma, the latin word for ‘jewel’ and hence it is an abbreviation which has inherited the pronunciation with a soft ‘G’.
The debate!
Well, the inventor of Graphic Interchange Format or GIF is Steve Wilhite and he had clarified that the pronunciation should be ‘JIF’ and not GIF. If you aren’t aware, ‘JIF’ is a reputed peanut butter brand. So, next time if you come across the ‘JIF’ pronunciation, think that the one pronouncing it is aware of the history! However, pronunciation with hard G has become popular now and it is not going to change!
See this twitter debate as well!
GIF or JIF?
How to debate the pronunciation of GIF https://t.co/20YyqBMl5q pic.twitter.com/kqTqGmG8MS
— The Oatmeal (@Oatmeal) March 25, 2016
Steve Wilhite says it is soft ‘G’
https://twitter.com/cairdin/status/713524768486465536
It is hard G…I’ll murder the one who says the other way !
@Oatmeal it's a hard G and I'll murder anybody that says otherwise.
— Teddybearisms (@teddybearisms) March 26, 2016
Just say ‘GAJIF’!
@Oatmeal I solved that problem a long time ago: Just say "Gajif". It has both soft and hard g-consonants. Everyone wins. 😎
— Richard Larson (@richarddlarson) March 26, 2016
Graphics or Jraphics?
@Oatmeal "Jraphics interchange Format"
— LonelyTex (@LonelyTex) March 26, 2016
