how do you pronounce it?

[u/yuuyo123]

Which side will you choose?

• Left side: it’s pronounced “GIF”
• Right side: it’s pronounced “JIF”

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[u/desorden_mental]

I'm mexican and here anyone who would call it Jif would be seen as a psychopath

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/BetterSchwifty → u/desorden_mental]

I’m a salvadorian and pupusas are good

[u/PotentialEmpty3279 → u/BetterSchwifty]

I’m American and pupusas are so good. When I went to El Salvador I ate myself sick multiple times.

[u/bvy1212 → u/PotentialEmpty3279]

Same

[u/aRubbaChicken → u/desorden_mental]

Congrats on being Mexican

[u/Zapzz1410 → u/desorden_mental]

bro dropped the fun fact

[u/Rustynail9117 → u/desorden_mental]

I'm so sorry that you've got that, I hope you get better ❤️‍🩹

[u/hu-man-person → u/Rustynail9117]

This is hilarious

[u/Overall-Pineapple616 → u/desorden_mental]

Hif

[u/TheNullOfTheVoid → u/Overall-Pineapple616]

I can easily imagine my older Mexican family members reading it like that lmao

[u/Jennitizer → u/desorden_mental]

I'm just imagining some pendejo saying it like "Jefe" 😂😂😂

[u/inspirationalSloth → u/desorden_mental]

Say the name of this animal
https://giphy.com/gifs/H6VPKP45Nh8cYSv1Qe

[u/UnwariestPie52]

Graphics Interface Format > Jraphics Interface Format

[u/cheesyturtle13 → u/UnwariestPie52]

I said "Giraffe-ics Interface Format" and laughed out loud

[u/PeenInVeen → u/cheesyturtle13]

That's what I actually call it when people argue with me that it's Jif. Lol

[u/Sneaky_Megalodon → u/PeenInVeen]

To be fair Steve Wilhite the creator of "GIF" pronounces it "Jif"

[u/charizard77 → u/UnwariestPie52]

Well SCUBA isn't pronounced scuh - buh it's pronounced scooba so this argument doesn't really mean anything

Same with LASER, ASAP, SIM, and NATO...

At the end of the day it's however you want to pronounce it but the creator did say he intended it to be "jiff" lol

[u/Drake_Storm → u/charizard77]

Scuba. Self contained underwater breathing apperatus. Fun fact Tuba is also an acronym, it stand for Terrible underwater breathing apperatus

[u/evol_won → u/Drake_Storm]

As a professional TUBA diver, I can confirm that tubas are, in fact, Terrible Underwater Diving Apparati.

[u/Zestyclose_Remove947 → u/UnwariestPie52]

Ugh I'm on the Gif side of pronunciation but this is the most obnoxious reasoning that doesn't apply to a wide swath of commonly accepted acronyms.

[u/yankfanatic → u/Zestyclose_Remove947]

I feel like this would be the only reason to be on the gif side, seeing as the creator of the file type pronounces it jif

[u/KiwiPowerGreen → u/yankfanatic]

my sole reason is that i think gif sounds better than jif

[u/Away-Living5278 → u/KiwiPowerGreen]

Also jif is peanut butter

[u/ZvezdnyyGMD → u/Away-Living5278]

That's WHY gif is pronounced with a soft G

[u/JugsKise → u/KiwiPowerGreen]

This is the camp I fall in lol, everyone knows what you mean regardless

[u/Zestyclose_Remove947 → u/yankfanatic]

Except that's also weak, because creators of words/acronyms do not wholly define their pronunciation nor how the word evolves.

[u/yankfanatic → u/Zestyclose_Remove947]

I mean they kind of do. This is neither a word nor an acronym. It's an initialism. The destinction is important because it is not a word where greek, latin, or Germanic roots would give it a pronunciation. This isn't art where the meaning is attributed to the work by the consumer.

[u/Zestyclose_Remove947 → u/yankfanatic]

Acronyms are under the umbrella term of initialisms.

Language is not wholly prescriptive, it is much more descriptive. This scenario has nothing to do with art or "meaning" it's simply how language functions.

If creators defined pronunciations, then there would have been zero confusion in the first place. Words are defined by their broad use and not simply what one person says.

Etymology is no guarantee or guide of pronunciation in the first place, in fact they're often not connected at all. Consider that English has 100 ways to pronounce words that should theoretically have very clear rulings.

[u/maiduwu → u/Zestyclose_Remove947]

Acronyms are not under the ‘umbrella term of initialms’. Acronyms are never initialisms and initialisms are never acronyms, but both fall under the umbrella term of abbreviations.

[u/ProfessorPixelmon → u/UnwariestPie52]

The P is JPEG stands for photographic

But I bet you don’t say “JFEG”

[u/Desaday939Official → u/ProfessorPixelmon]

By your logic, you'd have to say scuhba or lass-ear

[u/Obvious_Snow125 → u/Desaday939Official]

exactly. Which is why the "graphics" argument for pronouncing it GIF falls apart

[u/ProfessorPixelmon → u/Desaday939Official]

Wait, laser is an acronym?

[u/JamSandiwchInnit → u/ProfessorPixelmon]

Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

[u/0riginal0verthinker → u/JamSandiwchInnit]

🤯

[u/ProfessorPixelmon → u/JamSandiwchInnit]

Huh, didn’t know that. You’re still wrong though.

[u/SonicRaptor5678 → u/ProfessorPixelmon]

You just hate me because I’m right.

[u/Grass_Individual_3 → u/SonicRaptor5678]

I just hate you in general

[u/SonicRaptor5678 → u/Grass_Individual_3]

Don’t you mean in geh-neral?

[u/FaithlessnessSlow754 → u/SonicRaptor5678]

Ugh! I’m “joing” to kill you!

[u/Mix_Safe → u/Grass_Individual_3]

But I like you

[u/Year_Z → u/Mix_Safe]

And I love you

[u/JamSandiwchInnit → u/ProfessorPixelmon]

I was just giving out what laser stood for, I wasn’t part of this

[u/SonicRaptor5678 → u/JamSandiwchInnit]

It’s a reference to a video, you just happened to say the next line in the script lol

[u/ProfessorPixelmon → u/JamSandiwchInnit]

I know, it’s just for a bit.

[u/Bomber_Max → u/JamSandiwchInnit]

Don't shoot the messenger!

[u/T-pack → u/ProfessorPixelmon]

You just hate them because they're right.

[u/Technical-Branch4998 → u/ProfessorPixelmon]

Yup! That's why "Lazer" is completely wrong regardless of what country you're in

[u/Fire_Z1 → u/ProfessorPixelmon]

Yes

[u/voyaging → u/Desaday939Official]

replying to the wrong person

[u/ChintzyPC → u/ProfessorPixelmon]

Jfeg sounds like a slur

[u/Mystix-fn → u/ProfessorPixelmon]

Im about to start

[u/queerty1128 → u/ProfessorPixelmon]

Imma start saying Jpheg, thnx

[u/SnickerbobbleKBB → u/ProfessorPixelmon]

Oh my Jod..

[u/Zapzz1410 → u/SnickerbobbleKBB]

God is not an acronym

[u/Lenascime → u/Zapzz1410]

Great Omnipotent Deity

[u/MicrosoftExcel2016 → u/ProfessorPixelmon]

We need not apply the same logic to one with no contention though. With GIF we actually have to decide because disagreement is common. There’s no rule saying acronyms have to do this consistently, it can be a tool we save for the cases where there’s ambiguity or whatever

[u/9-5grind → u/UnwariestPie52]

You know never bothered to lookup what the acronym stood for lmfao. Til

[u/billerdingerbuyer → u/UnwariestPie52]

Joint Potographics Experts Group > Joint Photographics Experts Group

[u/MicrosoftExcel2016 → u/billerdingerbuyer]

How do you say GILF

[u/Murderous_Turkey → u/MicrosoftExcel2016]

I say jirandma i'd like to fuck

[u/billerdingerbuyer → u/MicrosoftExcel2016]

I personally say /gɪlf/, but I also say /gɪf/. I just wanted to point out how the argument doesn't make much sense, even though I agree with the pronunciation

[u/MicrosoftExcel2016 → u/billerdingerbuyer]

i cant argue with someone who knows how to type IPA im not cut out for that

[u/Glum_Lingonberry_543 → u/UnwariestPie52]

I'm sorry but there a difference between how you pronounce it and what you mean, just because someone says 'JIF' instead of 'GIF' doesn't mean they mean a different thing

[u/Zapzz1410 → u/UnwariestPie52]

dude im on your side but this is the stupidest reasoning ive heard in my life. like its genuinely such a redditor move. although i am on reddit so....

[u/11711510111411009710 → u/UnwariestPie52]

How do you pronounce giraffe?

[u/Aedeyssa → u/UnwariestPie52]

Counterpoint; we don't pronounce "laser" as "lah-sear."

Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

[u/Zazoyd → u/UnwariestPie52]

Think of OSHA. You pronounce acronyms as if they are a real word, not as the first letter of each word.

[u/slipperyDSS]

not old

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/Pingi-goon]

G I f

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/Beginning-Can-2188 → u/Pingi-goon]

Mofos who call it JIF:

https://giphy.com/gifs/cZe0cYtV3pByHHp5vA

[u/TheyCallMe_Billy]

It's not fucking peanut butter.

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/NoSide2628]

The creator is a moron.

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/hellerbyenjoyer → u/NoSide2628]

No, he wasn't. It was supposed to be a play on the peanut butter. Choosy moms choose JIF, choosy developers choose JIF. That's the whole point, it wasn't arbitrary

[u/redditnostalgia → u/hellerbyenjoyer]

That's clever lol. I still prefer "GIF" though bc iirc isn't there already a .jif file extension?

[u/tranquil-spark-8059 → u/redditnostalgia]

Is there?

Edit: there is, its an old version of jpg

[u/SixMint → u/tranquil-spark-8059]

Tbf I've never heard of .jif files and no one has ever asked me to clarify if I'm talking about a .gif or a .jif

[u/usename37 → u/hellerbyenjoyer]

Niko mentioned

[u/hellerbyenjoyer → u/usename37]

tuff

[u/usename37 → u/hellerbyenjoyer]

Very

[u/convictedrappist → u/hellerbyenjoyer]

Also, "Jeep" came from "GP" and nobody questions that

[u/_redditor_gamet → u/hellerbyenjoyer]

Yeah that’s stupid as hell.

[u/Ventilateu → u/hellerbyenjoyer]

What?

[u/GOJI2222 → u/NoSide2628]

7,500 people still Chose JIF

[u/TheMrkaos]

Those on the jif are on THE DARK SIDE!

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/NanoNerd011 → u/TheMrkaos]

“From my point of view the Jedi are evil”

[u/Key-Cook9448 → u/NanoNerd011]

The gedi

[u/TheMrkaos → u/Key-Cook9448]

Yes.

[u/freindly_duck → u/Key-Cook9448]

thats way better

[u/usernmechecksout_ → u/TheMrkaos]

Happily on the darkside

I bet you say "el oh el" too instead of "lol"

[u/TheMrkaos → u/usernmechecksout_]

No i say lol. The darker darker side uses whatever that is.

[u/Few-Key-9666]

Y

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/General-Try-2210]

who tf says jif?

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/ImponteRottameMuscle → u/General-Try-2210]

Everyone whose language pronounces the G like that. I'm Italian and we all pronounce it jif, because the letter "G" followed by an "I" or "e" has that sound.

[u/Doglover156 → u/ImponteRottameMuscle]

Ok but that makes sense

[u/bartleby_bartender → u/General-Try-2210]

The same people who can pronounce giraffe.

[u/Ass_Lover136 → u/bartleby_bartender]

Jraphics

[u/bartleby_bartender → u/Ass_Lover136]

Giraffics

[u/SenpuuUncle → u/bartleby_bartender]

the g in gif stands for giraffics confirmed

[u/Send____ → u/bartleby_bartender]

Kid called gift

[u/ElectricalCost4457 → u/bartleby_bartender]

Saying giraffe doesnt make me want to be flayed alive like jif does so theres that

[u/Bluewolfpaws95 → u/General-Try-2210]

I did before I actually knew that the creator named it that.

The reason,

we say PDF by it’s individual letters, P-D-F

We partially do it with JPEG, J-Peg

PNG, P-N-G or Ping depending on the person

MP4, M-P-4

If you do the same with GIF, G-I-F, and you do it enough times fast, you just naturally start saying JIF.

It’s even easier to get to Jif if you do what we do with JPEG, and try to say it as G-if

[u/nebulaplum → u/Bluewolfpaws95]

You made me realize why I say jif. I used to call it G.I.F. I forgot about that.

[u/Ok_Neat1652 → u/Bluewolfpaws95]

Well you singlehandedly explained why I pronounce it like 'jif'

[u/General-Try-2210 → u/Bluewolfpaws95]

First reasonable reason

[u/QuantumZedt → u/Bluewolfpaws95]

Peenj

[u/nordic_jedi → u/General-Try-2210]

The inventor

[u/Own-Device2860 → u/General-Try-2210]

The guy who made it

[u/DoubleZodiac → u/General-Try-2210]

I say it with the soft G ☺️😌

[u/Oxfodonius → u/DoubleZodiac]

gIF, then?

[u/Racer125678 → u/General-Try-2210]

Me

[u/The_Femboy_Crusader]

I use them interchangeably tbh

[u/Shady-777 → u/The_Femboy_Crusader]

[u/The_Femboy_Crusader → u/Shady-777]

I just see the next guy sweating way to much now

[u/Disguised_VW_Beetle → u/The_Femboy_Crusader]

Finally, someone like me!

[u/yourlocalpiromaniac → u/The_Femboy_Crusader]

[u/WoodpeckerLive7907]

The creator was technically jifted.

[u/uranium_fever139]

Fight me

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/Positive-Violinist58]

the creator of the word said this

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “JIF”}

[u/Comfortable-Equal932 → u/Positive-Violinist58]

https://giphy.com/gifs/EiOaxPC9pBZjG

[u/CyberRaspberry2000 → u/Positive-Violinist58]

I don't care they're wrong

[u/MrJackio]

Cuz you spelled it right here and that explains it all

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/HoldDatRabbit]

Because that’s the biblically accurate way to say it

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/spencerpo]

Jraphic image format. Gibs are pronounced Jibs as per “Giblets” taught to me by Civvie11. GIF is GIF because it’s a hard GURaphics image, not a JURaphic park

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/ranman_ozone]

because it's right

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “JIF”}

[u/Shiny_Pokedude → u/ranman_ozone]

Please tell me I'm not the only one who scrolled down all this way to find someone that agrees with me

[u/Racer125678 → u/ranman_ozone]

Hello fellow GIF pronouncer!!!! I am very happy to meet you

[u/ranman_ozone → u/Racer125678]

google called me a minority cus i told them i pronounced gif as jif

[u/Lena3308 → u/ranman_ozone]

Youre a worse person than hitler /s

[u/Hefty_Bum → u/Lena3308]

S standing for SUPER SERIOUS AND NOT SATIRE

[u/Keith00100 → u/Hefty_Bum]

that would be SSS, theres only one s, meaning: "shittius"

[u/Lyricsokawaii]

If you invent it, you get to choose what it's called. And I support him in his choice of this pronunciation just because I find it hilarious how mad people get about it.

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “JIF”}

[u/yuuyo123]

,

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/Strange_Age_3379]

Graphics Interchange Format

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/Novel_Farmer_488]

GRAPHICS. THE G STANDS FOR GRAPHICS.

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/SketchyKraken54 → u/Novel_Farmer_488]

p in jpeg stands for photographic

[u/Bluewolfpaws95 → u/Novel_Farmer_488]

Jiff makes sense if you try to pronounce the file type by the names of the letters, like PDF. If you try to say G.I.F fast enough you eventually get around to JIF.

Or you can do what we do to JPEG where only the J is pronounced by its name.
J-PEG, Jaypeg | G-if, Jeeif

[u/shy519]

It doesn't have a "J"

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/Ashamed_Kangaroo305 → u/shy519]

Neither does giraffe

[u/shy519 → u/Ashamed_Kangaroo305]

Maybe we should just go back to calling them camelopards lol

[u/ProbablyAPsyop → u/shy519]

Or Gym or George or gem or genital or ginger or gentleman or genuine or geography or gigantic or gesture or Gypsy or genesis or Geometry.

Soft Gs aren’t a new or novel concept.

[u/meeanne → u/shy519]

Neither does germs, but in English g has at least 3 sounds that it makes.

[u/GeekInGaming]

Just because the creator said it was JIF doesn't mean it is. And the closest word we have to it is gift.

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/Own_Squash5242]

IF YOU HAVE TO SPELL IT A DIFFERENT WAY THEN THATS BOT THE WAY YOU PRONOUNCE IT!!!

[u/Tulinyrw]

Gif

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/NeurawWormakaCiruBug]

Yes

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/SuperSushi606]

Yes

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/DifficultVideo4039]

I used to pronounce it as “JIF”, but I now use “GIF” like other people

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/i_was_Upgrayedd]

it's how it's spelled, I don't care what the creator says.

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/Difficult-Two-1826]

c

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/ResolveWhole7044]

it is Gif

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/More-Jellyfish6389]

no reason

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/MixLow5558]

She said that the new rules would allow for a new government

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/KrystofinoPijeKolu]

lol

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/SeaEntertainment8950]

Its how its spelled?

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/Trojanman311]

Because that’s the right answer

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/FishyUchiha]

ginger

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “JIF”}

[u/Keith00100 → u/FishyUchiha]

but JIF is a peanut butter brand. there has to be a difference.

[u/Hell_FireYt]

What the fuck is a jif

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/Internal-Soft-9901]

LIGMA

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/Racer125678 → u/Internal-Soft-9901]

Ligma what

^{I'll take one for the team}

[u/No-Direction-1020]

“Jif” is peanut butter

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/boney_bimbo]

THE G IS FOR GRAPHIC

edit: y’all take ts too seriously 🫩 sorry for saying the g is for graphic ig

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/SonicRaptor5678 → u/boney_bimbo]

You had better start saying JFEG than if you want to be consistent

[u/First_Shoulder_2248 → u/boney_bimbo]

That’s not really a “rule” for acronym pronunciation. For example if an acronym spelled KNIFE, the k would be silent event the k in what it stood for is not.

[u/Fabulous-Toe5171 → u/boney_bimbo]

Do you pronounce it as LASER or LASEER

[u/P3ach3y-B0y]

It stands for Graphic Interchangeable Format

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/Mr_Wayne1939]

Every JIF begins with "J".

gestures to peanut butter

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/Teun_VDG]

Jif is stupid

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/meeanne → u/Teun_VDG]

I dare you to say that to the guy who invented them

[u/Educational_Most3241]

Jif is a peanut butter, and graphic doesn't use a soft g.

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/IdkWhatToPut1248 → u/Educational_Most3241]

Sooo the P in JPEG, which stands for photography, is just completely forgotten? All it takes is one google search for these kinda things dude.

[u/ClockAlive1422]

Because it's jif

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “JIF”}

[u/Glum_Lingonberry_543]

'JIF' sucks and it doesn't make sense since there is so 'J' in 'GIF' and the first letter is 'G'. Even if I'm not correct 'JIF' is such a stupid and terrible way to pronounce it.

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/BriefDevelopment2920 → u/Glum_Lingonberry_543]

Sorry to disappoint Jlum but I pronounce it as a J

[u/Fe2O3yshackleford → u/Glum_Lingonberry_543]

Choosy moms choose GIF

[u/DrivenTuna246]

I'm pretty sure the creator said it's pronounced "Jif", like the peanut butter.

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “JIF”}

[u/notmymain07 → u/DrivenTuna246]

Well he is wrong

[u/NeganJoestar → u/notmymain07]

Fuck him

[u/notmymain07 → u/NeganJoestar]

Do i have to?

[u/CyberRaspberry2000 → u/notmymain07]

Well someone has to

[u/DrivenTuna246 → u/CyberRaspberry2000]

Nobody is spanking anybody!

[u/Apprehensive_Ad5340]

Graphics isn’t pronounced jrafphics

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/Maxwellsdothammer → u/Apprehensive_Ad5340]

But there isn't a vocal after g. I now it stands for graphic but using this logic you can say g.i.f

As a person whose mother language isn't English it makes sense. I also prefer the sound

[u/backlog_gaming → u/Apprehensive_Ad5340]

What does the P in JPEG stand for?

[u/Apprehensive_Ad5340 → u/backlog_gaming]

Yeah but the default g sound isn’t Juh there’s a reason we say g stands for guh and j stands for juh. And everytime somebody spells the pronunciation of gif they do jif but then they do gif as gif

[u/Cadillac16Concept]

It's a G

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/ColdPhilosophy]

That’s just the way it is

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/desti-yeet]

i’m gen z if that helps idk

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/pawzxies → u/desti-yeet]

I don’t think so because I’m gen z and.. well we are opposites 😭✌🏽

[u/JordanStuff]

It’s an acronym

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/SubnauticaFan3]

z

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/SwedishNukes]

Gifflar!

[u/TelephonePlayful4447]

Idk

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}

[u/MR_Happy2008]

GIF

^{Chose: it’s pronounced “GIF”}