guy

The word “guy” means a man or boy; an informal word for a male person. In plain terms, an informal word for a man — or, in the plural, a friendly way to address any group of people.

“Guy” is pronounced geye ([ɡaɪ] in IPA).

Here is “guy” used in a sentence: “He's a really nice guy once you get to know him.”

“Guy” is a noun.

The word “guy” dates back to around 1605. From "Guy Fawkes," the man behind the 1605 Gunpowder Plot in England; effigies of him burned on bonfires eventually gave the word its casual sense of "man" or "fellow.".

“Guy” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Guy” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a man or boy; an informal word for a male person.

Both refer to a male person, but "guy" is casual and friendly, while "man" is neutral and works in any setting. You would call a friend a guy but describe a witness as a man in a report. "Guy" also carries a relaxed, approachable tone that the plainer word "man" does not.

Yes. In the plural, "guys" is commonly used to address or describe a mixed group, or even an all-female group, as in "Hey, guys." Used this way it is gender-neutral and simply means "everyone." In the singular, however, "guy" almost always refers specifically to a male person.

Guy is informal. It suits conversation, friendly writing, and casual settings, but it is out of place in formal or official contexts, where "man," "gentleman," or "male" fit better. Using "guy" signals a relaxed, everyday tone rather than a professional, legal, or ceremonial one.

It traces back to Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up the English Parliament in 1605. The effigies burned on bonfire night were called "guys," and the word came to mean a strange-looking figure, then any man. Over time it lost its mockery and became a friendly, everyday term.