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Mariya
When do you use the word "guys"?
Does it apply only to boys? Or can I use it to greet a mixed company (both boys and girls)?
May 29, 2012 4:27 PM
Answers · 4
3
When I address more than one person, I always use "you guys," regardless of gender or the social context. When I refer to "guys" in the third person plural, I am always referring to males.
May 29, 2012
1
Yes, you can use it to refer to a group of men and women, you can even use it to refer to a group of all women (although it would probably be better to say "girls" in that case).
It's because modern English lacks a plural "you". So we actually use the phrase "you all" (in southern USA, "y'all"), or "you guys" as a pronoun, functionally!
"You all" is acceptable in formal situations, "you guys" is informal and friendly. And 'guys' can always be used, even if there is not one man in the group! "How you girls doing?" sounds a bit strange to me.... but it makes sense... hmmm. I still think I would say "How you guys doing" if i addressed a group of all females. Or maybe 'how are you all doing' to avoid saying 'guys'. but 'how you guys doing' is much more comfortable to say, we use it a lot.
In this particular case, when we say 'guy' it means more like 'a person' than 'a male'.
May 29, 2012
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Mariya
Language Skills
English, German, Italian, Russian
Learning Language
English, German, Italian
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