gi's: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (regional/colloquial)Informal, colloquial, regional (especially Northern England, Scotland, Ireland)
Quick answer
What does “gi's” mean?
Informal contraction of 'give us' (UK) or 'give me' (UK/US).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Informal contraction of 'give us' (UK) or 'give me' (UK/US).
A colloquial request or demand, often used in casual speech to ask for something to be handed over or provided.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common and widely recognized in UK dialects (especially Northern England, Scotland, Ireland). In the US, it might be heard in areas with strong UK/Irish influence or in very casual, imitated speech, but is not standard.
Connotations
UK: Casual, friendly, sometimes working-class or regional. US: Markedly non-standard, possibly perceived as an affectation or direct borrowing from UK media.
Frequency
Frequent in certain UK regional dialects; very rare in general American English.
Grammar
How to Use “gi's” in a Sentence
Gi's + NP (noun phrase)Gi's + NP + Particle (e.g., 'here', 'over')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gi's” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- 'Gi's a pen, will you?' he asked his mate.
- 'Gi's it here before you drop it!'
American English
- (Rare, imitative) 'Gi's a taste of that soda,' he said, mimicking a British film.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Casual requests among friends/family in relevant dialects. (e.g., 'Gi's the remote.')
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gi's”
- Writing as 'gis' without apostrophe (less standard).
- Using in formal writing.
- Overusing outside its regional/dialectal context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is strictly for informal, spoken contexts or stylistic representation of dialogue.
It is a contraction of 'give us', where 'us' is often used colloquially to mean 'me'.
It is not part of standard American English. An American using it would likely be consciously imitating UK/Irish speech.
'Gimme' is a contraction of 'give me' and is widespread in informal US and UK English. 'Gi's' (give us) is more regionally specific to parts of the UK and Ireland.
Informal contraction of 'give us' (UK) or 'give me' (UK/US).
Gi's: in British English it is pronounced /ɡɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Gi's a bell (call me)”
- “Gi's a sec (wait a second)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'GI' as in a soldier asking informally, 'GI's (Give us) some supplies!'
Conceptual Metaphor
HANDING IS TRANSFERRING CONTROL/POSSESSION
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary register of 'gi's'?