What is gift? Pronunciation and usage in English

gift means . Learn how to pronounce and use gift through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of gift

giftnoun

/ɡɪft/
Definition & pronunciation of gift

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "gift" in English. It's a tricky one because it's famously mispronounced!

Here's the breakdown:

  • The most common and correct pronunciation is: /ˈɡɪf/ (Gihf) - This is the pronunciation you'll hear most often in American English. Think of it like the word "gift" as a single syllable, with the “g” sound followed by an “ihf” sound (like the “if” in “gift”).

  • The traditional, more "proper" pronunciation (used in British English) is: /ɡɪft/ (Gift) - This pronunciation has a distinct “t” sound at the end.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown of both:

1. /ˈɡɪf/ (Gihf) - American English:

  • "G": Say the letter "G" as in "go."
  • "ih": Say the sound like the "i" in "bit" or "sit."
  • "f": Say the letter "F" as in "fun."

2. /ɡɪft/ (Gift) - British English:

  • "G": Same as above, as in "go."
  • "ih": Same as above, as in "bit" or "sit."
  • "t": Say the letter "T" as in "top."

Resources to Help You Hear it:

  • Google Audio: Just type "pronunciation of gift" into Google, and it will give you audio examples.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/gift/ – This site has audio recordings from native speakers of different accents.

Why is it so confusing?

The word's origin is Greek (δό́τιον - dótion), and it doesn't have a strong "t" sound in Greek. The "t" pronunciation arose as a way to sound more formal and "correct" in certain dialects.

To help me give you even more specific guidance, could you tell me:

  • Where are you from (approximately)? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia, etc.) – This will help me determine which pronunciation might be more relevant to you.

Usage and examples with the word gift in English

Let's break down how to use the word "gift" in English. It’s a surprisingly versatile word with several different meanings! Here's a categorized breakdown:

1. Physical Gifts (Tangible Items):

  • Definition: This is the most common meaning – something you give to someone as a present.
  • Usage:
    • "I got a beautiful scarf as a gift for my mom’s birthday."
    • "He wrapped the gift carefully and brought it to the party."
    • “Can you open the gift?”
    • “What did you get for gift-giving?” (Asking about what was given)
  • Synonyms: present, offering, token, treasure

2. Natural Talents & Abilities (Innate Skills):

  • Definition: A natural talent or skill that someone is born with.
  • Usage:
    • "She has a gift for music – she plays the piano beautifully.”
    • "He’s a natural gift at mathematics.”
    • "Some people say she has a gift for leadership.”
    • "He discovered his gift for painting at a young age."
  • Synonyms: talent, aptitude, ability, skill

3. A Blessing or Grace (Something Divine or Wonderful):

  • Definition: Something considered to be a blessing or a fortunate occurrence. This usage is often more figurative.
  • Usage:
    • "Receiving that scholarship was a true gift."
    • “Life is a gift – we should appreciate every moment.”
    • “She considers her health a gift.”
    • “The rain was a welcome gift after the drought."
  • Synonyms: blessing, favor, grace, boon

4. Gift (as a Verb - To Give):

  • Definition: To give something willingly.
  • Usage:
    • "I gifted him my old bike.” (Meaning I gave him the bike)
    • "She gifted us with a beautiful piece of artwork." (Meaning she gave us the artwork)
    • "I will gift you this book." (I'm going to give you this book.)
  • Note: "Gift" as a verb is less common than the noun form.

5. Giving/Donating (Often to Charities):

  • Definition: To donate money or items to a charity or cause.
  • Usage:
    • "Many people gift money to homeless shelters during the holidays."
    • "The company gifted $10,000 to the local animal shelter.”
    • “She gifts regularly to environmental organizations."

Important Notes & Nuances:

  • Singular vs. Plural: “Gift” is generally used as a singular noun. You wouldn’t say “gifts” when referring to a single present, for example. (You would say “presents” in that case).
  • Formal vs. Informal: “Gift” is generally considered a fairly formal word, though it's used in everyday conversation.

Here are some ways to help me give you even more tailored advice:

  • Can you give me a sentence where you’d like to use the word “gift”? I can help you phrase it correctly.
  • Are you interested in a specific context for using “gift” (e.g., business writing, casual conversation)?

Synonyms for the word gift

Idioms of the word gift

be in the gift of somebody | be in somebody’s gift
(especially British English)if something such as an important job or a special right or advantage is in somebody’s gift, that person can decide who to give it to
  • All such posts are in the gift of the managing director (= only given by the managing director).
the gift of the gab
(informal, sometimes disapproving)the ability to speak easily and to persuade other people with your words
  • Joe’s got the gift of the gab—he can sell anything.
God’s gift (to somebody/something)
(ironic)a person who thinks that they are particularly good at something or who thinks that somebody will find them particularly attractive
  • He seems to think he's God's gift to women.
look a gift horse in the mouth
(informal)to refuse or criticize something that is given to you for nothing
  • I’m never one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Practice with vocabulary gift

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. Possessing an innate ability to connect with people, the diplomat's exceptional communication skills were considered a valuable _____ in his profession.
  2. The company provided a generous year-end _____ to all employees, acknowledging their hard work throughout the challenging fiscal year.
  3. The non-profit organization relies heavily on financial _____ from individual donors to fund its community outreach programs.
  4. After years of dedicated service, the veteran employee received a prestigious _____ for his outstanding commitment to the company's growth.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. The CEO's natural charisma was a considerable _____ in securing the multi-million dollar deal. A) trait B) asset C) gift D) attribute

  2. As a token of appreciation, the conference organizers presented each speaker with a small _____. A) present B) award C) prize D) gift

  3. The university received a substantial financial _____ from its alumni, enabling the construction of a new research facility. A) grant B) donation C) endowment D) gift

  4. The manager offered valuable _____ on how to improve our project proposal. A) advice B) suggestions C) recommendations D) information

  5. The new software provided an incredible _____ in terms of efficiency for the entire department. A) advantage B) improvement C) benefit D) asset

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Her ability to mediate conflicts effectively is an inherent strength. (Rewrite using "gift")
  2. The discovery of penicillin brought enormous benefits to humanity. (Rewrite using "gift")
  3. The company made a charitable donation to the local hospital. (Rewrite without using "gift")

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. gift
  2. gift
  3. donations
  4. award

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. B) asset, C) gift
  2. A) present, D) gift
  3. B) donation, C) endowment, D) gift
  4. A) advice, B) suggestions, C) recommendations
  5. A) advantage, B) improvement, C) benefit, D) asset

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Her effective conflict mediation is a natural gift.
  2. The discovery of penicillin was a tremendous gift to humanity.
  3. The company made a charitable contribution to the local hospital.

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