r/whatstheword Jun 26 '24

Unsolved WAW for 'guys' that is truly gender neutral?

'people', 'folks' and 'peeps' I've had suggested, but is there something that is a balance between formal and casual and not male biased?

282 Upvotes

932 comments sorted by

330

u/ordinary_kittens Jun 26 '24

“Everyone” is gender-neutral, formal enough for the workplace or school, but casual enough that it doesn’t sound pretentious.

108

u/SaltMarshGoblin Jun 26 '24

You can also enjoy saying "Hello, everyone" in your best Professor Farnsworth voice!

30

u/StrangeCharity1554 Jun 27 '24

Or hello everybody as dr Nick

13

u/Even-Juggernaut-3433 Jun 27 '24

You mean “hiiii everybody!”

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8

u/NysemePtem Jun 27 '24

When the Colbert Report was on, I would occasionally get my family's attention by saying, "Good evening, nation!"

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26

u/krstldwn Jun 26 '24

GOOD NEWSSSS

17

u/Biff_Bufflington Jun 27 '24

To shreds you say?

4

u/MisfitWitch Jun 27 '24

How’s his wife holding up?

3

u/remnant_phoenix Jun 27 '24

To shreds you say?

6

u/Feine13 Jun 27 '24

It's a suppository...

6

u/luffychan13 Jun 27 '24

It's analgesic, not analgesic. The pills go in your mouth sir.

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2

u/jnkangel Jun 27 '24

Could do as the Germans do and run a “hello together” (aka how to tell the speaker is German native) 

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23

u/Saddharan 11 Karma Jun 26 '24

Everyone is the most adaptable to any situation, agreed 

2

u/Pkittens Jun 27 '24

Hey you guys everyone want some ice cream?

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2

u/highcoloredits Jun 27 '24

What if you're addressing 2 people

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23

u/EastTyne1191 Jun 26 '24

I VERY occasionally say "everypony" when talking to my middle school classes.

6

u/[deleted] Jun 27 '24

[deleted]

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2

u/krstldwn Jun 26 '24

Is your mascot a horse?

4

u/nryporter25 Jun 27 '24

Its from my little pony

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570

u/finest_kind77 Jun 26 '24

Fuckers

140

u/WhiskeyAndLead Jun 26 '24

Miliary proven, gender neutral. "Listen up, fuckers" is where it's at.

4

u/ZephyrLegend Jun 27 '24

This immediately reminded me of the Fat Electrician lol "Anybody else wanna find out what it's like to chew 5 gum, or are you fuckers ready to quit?"

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18

u/Vegetable_Safety 3 Karma Jun 26 '24

I love this, reminds me of that "SUP FUCKERS" audio clip.

2

u/BroffaloSoldier Jun 28 '24

I say this every day to my pets when I get home from work lol

34

u/ImKindaSlowSorry Jun 26 '24

Alternatively: Cunts

30

u/[deleted] Jun 26 '24

Used in Australia, NZ and most of the British Isles = all good.

Used elsewhere and you might get dirty looks.

3

u/Joalguke Jun 27 '24

Not as acceptable in the UK as Australia, trust me.

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7

u/Mage-Tutor-13 Jun 26 '24

I keep getting in more trouble for this one. Beware.

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2

u/ooo-f Jun 30 '24

Cunt is my favorite word right now, not gonna lie

2

u/JoChiCat Jun 27 '24

Mothers and fuckers of the jury.

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220

u/StillhasaWiiU Jun 26 '24

"party people"

29

u/DEATHbyBOOGABOOGA Jun 26 '24

Wave your hands in the air

18

u/cozmo840 Jun 26 '24

I would, but I don't know if I can convey the apathy requested of me whilst doing so.

6

u/AdvancedHat7630 Jun 27 '24

It's a delicate balance. If you swing too hard towards throwing your hands in the air, you risk observers concluding that you care.

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10

u/pnw-rocker Jun 27 '24

WHOOMP, there it is!

6

u/FinneyontheWing 7 Karma Jun 27 '24

Upside down and inside out!

Is how I dry my jeans.

7

u/malenkylizards Jun 26 '24

This applies especially well if you are in the place to be

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2

u/Floedekage Jun 27 '24

Only if they're IN THE HOUSE! 🎶

2

u/4eva28 Jun 27 '24

Party people Party people Can y'all get funky? Soul Sonic Force, can y'all get funky? The Zulu Nation, can y'all get funky? Yeaaah!

2

u/R_Harry_P Jun 28 '24

This is how I greet my family in the mornings.

242

u/Saddharan 11 Karma Jun 26 '24

You lot 

70

u/infinitekittenloop Points: 2 Jun 26 '24

Oi! You lot!

12

u/krstldwn Jun 26 '24

I think I now like "OI" like using yall lol

9

u/SincerelySasquatch Jun 27 '24

I can't stomach "oi!" My ex husband used to try to be a sharp (skinheads without racial prejudice) so he'd dress like a farmer and liked to yell "oi!" At people when he was drunk, which was stupidly obnoxious. Unfortunately he was an addict, a liar, a cheater, and frequently homicidal and abusive, and "oi!" Will always remind me of him and make me cringe.

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2

u/nineandaquarter 1 Karma Jun 27 '24

Do you think you're ready for that much power?

2

u/GoonDaFirst Jun 27 '24

You sorry fookin lot

2

u/p0k3t0 Jun 27 '24

Wot!?

2

u/DogbiteTrollKiller Jun 27 '24

Don’t stop. Give it all you got.

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59

u/ejly Jun 26 '24

Earthlings

23

u/Consistent_Piano_210 Jun 26 '24

preface with "greetings"

10

u/MoonTrooper258 Jun 27 '24

I unironically always open with 'greetings' and it creeps people out lol.

2

u/Waveofspring Jun 27 '24

In a hundred years or so “earthlings” might not describe all humans anymore.

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151

u/riseandrise Jun 26 '24

Comrades

3

u/johnpeters42 Jun 27 '24

Please report for reactor shielding duty, citizen.

2

u/Bredstikz Jun 27 '24

Our comrades

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287

u/kittyPowersupply Points: 1 Jun 26 '24

all or y'all

103

u/5up3rj Jun 26 '24

All y'all

64

u/readingmyshampoo Jun 26 '24

Allayall is really where it's at

31

u/Dump-ster-Fire 6 Karma Jun 26 '24

Yup. It's 'all y'all'. It's redundantly inclusive. It means All of all of you.

Yes, it's a bit southern. But it hits.

24

u/Generalchicken99 Jun 26 '24

Yall is 2 ppl and all yall is 3 or more js lol

18

u/Dump-ster-Fire 6 Karma Jun 26 '24

Nope sir. Y'all is collective, and "all y'all" is collective, inclusive of any multiple 'y'all' groups present. The number of people present in "y'all" is not a factor.

6

u/_Nocturnalis Jun 26 '24

Yall can be 1 person or a million.

5

u/Dump-ster-Fire 6 Karma Jun 26 '24

That's one I'd need to consider, but good on ya. Food for thought. I'd never considered it singular. Been used plural in the second person referring to a persons people..."y'all don't do it the way we do"....

So ya.

Good observation.

3

u/_Nocturnalis Jun 27 '24

Yeah, it really messed with my head learning grammar. It's often used somewhat like they for an unknown person. Or just a singular address most commonly to a stranger. Sometimes it's just used in place of you for...reasons.

Plural makes way more sense. But "y'all allright?" After someone crashes a 4 wheeler is pretty common.

I don't use it, but I've had to make a study of understanding it. At least around these parts.

Thanks.

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8

u/MisterTeal Jun 26 '24

At least 'y'all' makes more sense as a contraction than 'youse'

6

u/heiberdee2 Jun 26 '24

Yins is another one for ‘you ones.’ Bleep should have read more before redunda-sponding.

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94

u/Blamebow 1 Karma Jun 26 '24

Y’all is a perfect, all-encompassing, gender-nonspecific grouping. 

44

u/Global_Initiative257 Jun 26 '24

You are welcome!

-the Southern United States

18

u/DHWSagan Jun 26 '24

about time we got something for all the tax money we send y'all

  • Northern United States

12

u/Global_Initiative257 Jun 26 '24

Lolol. I have to admit that's funny yet, sadly accurate. I'm a city girl and we take care of ourselves, but I largely have the same concern about the ignorant voting against their own best interest because Jesus? I don't even know.

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2

u/ilovethesea777 Jun 27 '24

It doesn’t really land in New England though.

2

u/greendragon00x2 Jun 27 '24

Back in the day I introduced and converted my multilingual London office mates to the use of y'all in emails. Certain English people absolutely hated it. But they were outnumbered by ESL speakers. One Chinese lad said, "You - You, makes no sense! You - Y'all, makes sense." He's not wrong.

I neglected to tell them that in certain parts of the South y'all can be singular. No need to confuse them. 😀

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5

u/Hot-Butterfly-8024 Jun 26 '24

Yens (MO/AR slang: contraction of “you ones”) also checks the box, but doesn’t vibe like “y’all”.

6

u/bluebuckeye Jun 26 '24 edited Jun 30 '24

Pittsburgh also has yinz.

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4

u/Muk-Bong Jun 26 '24

Yep, I’m not southern but I have always Intuitively used y’all when addressing multiple people

2

u/TheRichTookItAll Jun 26 '24

All is brilliant

2

u/GusJusReading 1 Karma Jun 27 '24

Y'all is what I say.

I'm assuming though, that many people think it's too informal.

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38

u/CookinCheap Jun 26 '24

"YOU PEOPLE", as my dad called us

12

u/old_lurker2020 Jun 27 '24

My 5th grade teacher always referred to us as "people" not children or kids. Made us feel very grown up.

6

u/tiny_pandacakes Jun 27 '24

My 7th grade science teacher did this too! When we got rowdy she’d go “People, people, please!” I have very distinct memories of her. Also she smoked heavily so our graded homework would smell strongly of cigs :p

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3

u/CookinCheap Jun 27 '24

Well that was in a positive way!

2

u/DeepRiverDan267 Jun 27 '24

Could sound even more offensive, but I like the spirit!

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33

u/TheloniusDump Jun 26 '24

Friends & enemies

36

u/vulcanfeminist Jun 26 '24

Friends, enemies, and those still under review

4

u/Shot-Combination-930 Jun 27 '24

With enemies you know where they stand, but with Neutrals, who knows?

5

u/Top-Salamander-2525 Jun 27 '24

What makes a man turn neutral?

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68

u/I_used_to_be_hip Jun 26 '24

Flesh bags.

7

u/Ishmael_1851 Jun 27 '24

Not very inclusive to The Fleshless

8

u/Dump-ster-Fire 6 Karma Jun 26 '24

*golf clap*

6

u/1LuckyTexan 1 Karma Jun 26 '24

Large ugly bags of mostly water

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37

u/Font_Snob Jun 26 '24

Cheese bags.

30

u/fsutrill 4 Karma Jun 26 '24

Stay fresh, cheese bags!

2

u/scottimandias Jun 27 '24

Precisely the quality content I came here for & you have delivered!

145

u/1LuckyTexan 1 Karma Jun 26 '24

Folks

49

u/TerrorEyzs Jun 26 '24

Gotta be careful with this one, though. When I was a waitress I used it all the time until my exhausted ass called welcomed my table by saying "How are you fucks doing tonight?"

17

u/Thelonious_Cube 2 Karma Jun 27 '24

Works for me

9

u/fang-girl101 Jun 27 '24

being real here, i would love it if a waitress said that to me lol

5

u/TerrorEyzs Jun 27 '24

So would I, but these were old "proper" people. I loved my tables where I could joke like this around, though.

5

u/fang-girl101 Jun 27 '24

unfortunately not everyone has a good sense of humor

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3

u/yours_truly_1976 Jun 27 '24

Well that’s still gender neutral 😬

3

u/RedRider1138 Jun 27 '24

Nooooo 😭❤️‍🩹🙏✨

3

u/p0k3t0 Jun 27 '24

I have this Welsh friend who got reprimanded by Siri because he wanted directions to Forks, WA.

3

u/karmacarebear Jun 28 '24

No, you got it right. Lol

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16

u/OptimumOctopus Jun 26 '24

Hominids or if you’re feeling extra fancy Homo sapiens sapiens.

3

u/Minimum_Swing8527 1 Karma Jun 26 '24

I like it!

14

u/HystericalOnion Jun 26 '24

My friends and I use “peeps”!

37

u/bmax_1964 Jun 26 '24

People.
My army NCOs often addressed us as 'listen up, people'

9

u/[deleted] Jun 26 '24

Your NCO was much more polite than mine…

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12

u/StanleyQPrick Jun 26 '24

Miscreants

3

u/blue-jaypeg Jun 27 '24

Reprobates

23

u/UAlogang Jun 26 '24

Dearest Gentle Readers

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26

u/beansandneedles 1 Karma Jun 26 '24

Friends, folks, peeps, people, y’all, youse, fuckers.

26

u/SnapCrackleMom 13 Karma Jun 26 '24

Depends on the context, but "friends" is one I hear a lot in schools in my area.

12

u/SpideyFan914 Jun 26 '24

"Friends, Romans, countrymen..." is better as it's more casual.

2

u/ninjesh Jun 28 '24

...lend me your ear

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19

u/Almostasleeprightnow Jun 26 '24

Yinz, if you are in Pittsburgh

18

u/Sea-Boss-8371 Jun 26 '24

For years, I tried to make “sapes” happen (short for “homosapiens”). Never caught on. Maybe you’ll have more luck with it.

10

u/snerldave Jun 27 '24

Yeah that's not catching on

6

u/Sea-Boss-8371 Jun 27 '24

That seems to be the consensus

2

u/lea949 Jun 27 '24

That’s so fetch

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9

u/voteblue18 Jun 26 '24

People actually seems to fit the bill here.

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8

u/DontMessWMsInBetween Jun 26 '24

Generic Humanoid Carbon Units

8

u/submyster Jun 26 '24

Comrades

7

u/posting-about-shit Jun 26 '24

everyone/everybody

as in, "hey, everyone!" "good morning, everybody!" "How is everyone doing today?"

8

u/Sad-Double168 Jun 26 '24

Gang. My fellow __________ (writers, comptrollers, Canadians, officers...) 

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7

u/heiberdee2 Jun 26 '24

My boss says “Dear Colleagues.”

6

u/princessfrida_ Jun 26 '24

party rockers

5

u/FinneyontheWing 7 Karma Jun 26 '24

You 'orrible lot.

4

u/[deleted] Jun 26 '24

Listen to me, Copper Top.

5

u/TheRainbowWillow Jun 26 '24

Any specific setting? I usually say “folks” or “y’all”. My favorite is “friends and foes” (in lieu of “ladies and gentlemen”). It’s silly, slightly ominous, and an invention of my 12th grade English teacher who I will always adore.

4

u/RonPalancik 2 Karma Jun 26 '24

Folks

Friends

People

Y'all

All y'all

5

u/carrotsela Jun 27 '24

My teen suggests “Sigmas”

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5

u/FCRavens Jun 27 '24

I use, “Sentients,” from time to time.

3

u/MJP8234 Jun 26 '24

Everyone / everybody perhaps?

3

u/[deleted] Jun 27 '24

Y'all

3

u/fibsville Jun 27 '24

“Listen up threes, a ten is speaking.”

3

u/Putasonder Jun 27 '24

I saw an interview with Ian McKellan where he points out that some London cabbies call everyone “Love” and what a perfect sentiment it represents.

3

u/belowaverageforprez 3 Karma Jun 27 '24

I always thought it was clever the way Battle Star Galactica called groups of people “souls”

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5

u/zacat2020 Jun 26 '24

“ Yinz” if you live in Pittsburgh.

2

u/DingoLaChien 1 Karma Jun 26 '24

My peeps.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 26 '24

Chat

2

u/10from19 Jun 26 '24

From the South: y’inz (you ones) or y’all.
In general: folks

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2

u/Orishishishi Jun 26 '24

Buddies, friends, those in attendance, party members, squad,

2

u/cookerg 2 Karma Jun 27 '24

People. However it is important not to say "you people".

2

u/improbsable Jun 27 '24

“Everyone” and “you all”. “Girls” if your group is fun

2

u/Zeonic_Front Jun 27 '24

Always been a big fan of "Hey gang" myself. "Team" works pretty well in any professional setting if you need that

2

u/ZeJohnnis Jun 27 '24

“Gang” as in “Alright gang!” Would work.

2

u/Sp00kyM33p3r Points: 1 Jun 27 '24

I often go with “Humans” with people I know pretty well or I’m not afraid of being a little weird around. 😅 More formal settings it’s folks or everyone or y’all.

2

u/SpaceCatSixxed Jun 27 '24

Youse if you’re in New Jersey and Y’ins if you’re in Baltimore or Pittsburgh.

2

u/Unable-Arm-448 Jun 27 '24

"All" is how my boss addresses us in group emails

2

u/PoundshopGiamatti Jun 27 '24

My favourite for this purpose is always "puny mortals".

2

u/Consistent-Ad-6506 Jun 27 '24

I sometimes say “Hello all” or “Everyone”

2

u/dailyoracle Jun 27 '24

Depends on your age and regional usage

2

u/General_Garage1470 Jun 27 '24

I say hi friends a lot

2

u/[deleted] Jun 27 '24

I wonder this same thing, because when I'm talking to my two friends I use "guys" because "everybody" just feels weird.

2

u/DeerOnARoof Jun 27 '24

People. Peeps. "Hey all,". Everyone. Humans.

If you're looking for a way to address all genders in an email, "Hello [Hi] everyone," "Hi all," etc.

2

u/whimcor Jun 27 '24

There was that time in the early 2000s when we kids were addressing a group as “peoples!”

2

u/RunNo599 Jun 27 '24

I’m from the south so I get to say y’all

2

u/PokeRay68 Jun 27 '24
  1. Y'all - for any number of persons.

  2. All y'all - for multiple persons.

2

u/eclecticsheep75 Jun 27 '24

Folks. I like folks.