Is "guys" gender specific to you?

[StringThing]

Just said 'thanks guys' to two women but heard that some older people might think it's a little off/weird, or at worst offensive. Like I am mistaking them for a man.

So I want to ask:

1. How old are you? (rough estimate is fine)

2. Do you think that 'guys' refers specifically to males/men?



I will answer:

1. 27

2. I think it can be used for anyone. I don't think twice about using 'guys' to refer to a group of people.

[e_poison]

I normally say "you guys" when addressing a group of people. I think it's pretty gender neutral, but with how ultra sensitive people are getting these days... who knows anymore.

[StringThing]

I normally say "you guys" when addressing a group of people. I think it's pretty gender neutral, but with how ultra sensitive people are getting these days... who knows anymore.

I don't think it's a politically correct thing at all and I'm more focused on the linguistics of it rather than the political aspect. It's called a phatic expression. Basically small talk, which doesn't have to be taken literally.

The acceptable phatic expressions change from culture to culture and generation to generation and language to language.

Like, "You've gotten so fat!" is okay to say in Chinese. It implies you're living a good life, eating well, etc. But try saying that in America and, well, lol.

"No problem" is a big thing that gen x/millenials are saying, but I know to older generations it sometimes sounds like it actually IS a problem. They expect to hear "you're welcome". But to many, including myself, that just sounds awkward. It feels as if I've done someone a big favor.

A lot of cultures don't bother with asking how you're doing either. But it's common in English, even though you don't expect a real answer. I know to Russians they will feel like you are trying to pry into their life, or wonder why you are THAT interested, etc.

Just small differences that I think are interesting and help us to understand how other's think. I'm not sure how others feel about 'you guys' though. Was hoping there might be some older folks on here who can give me more perspective on what I've heard about the phrase.

[Babel-17]

Edit: I'm over 60.

I wouldn't sweat it. Heck, in Full Metal Jacket we hear that D.I. call his recruits "Ladies". lol
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093058/quotes/qt1782317

But if you want to get in the habit of using a term that, strictly speaking, is gender inclusive, you can use "fellows", or "fellas".
It literally means those of your group, like fellow scholars, fellow Trekkers, fellow Kratomites, or whatever.

It might be a generational thing, but some of us remember the film (based on a musical) Guys and Dolls, so that could make some older people think "Guys" is just a tad off as a term to address a group of men and women. And, yikes, now that I think about it, "fellows" has the advantage of having nothing to do with sexual identity or gender, so there's that too in its favor.

It gets used in the word fellowship, which applies to all genders.

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-g ... t-want-one

[PistolsAtDawn]

I'm partial to dude, which the kids tell me is neutral these days.

[MycatTimmy]

Y’all comes in very handy. Encompassing you and all. It’s very gender neutral

[StringThing]

I'm partial to dude, which the kids tell me is neutral these days.

Dude is absolutely a gendered thing to me. It's obviously not like a big deal or anything, but it seems a little off to me when I hear women use 'dude' or when people refer to women with 'dude'.

[herbalhippie]

I use guys when I refer to more than one person no matter the gender.

[IndelibleDotInk]

I use guys when I refer to more than one person no matter the gender.

What hippie said.

[GrannyJ62]

I use guys when I refer to more than one person no matter the gender.

What hippie said.

Same an Same