GIF
/ɡɪf/noun
A digital image format that supports both static and animated images.
Did you know?The term GIF stands for 'Graphics Interchange Format,' but its pronunciation sparks endless debate—some say 'jif,' while others insist on 'gif' with a hard 'g'!
Etymological Timeline
1980s
English
GIF
“A format created for image compression and sharing on the early internet.”
1970s
English
Graphics
“Visual representations made through art or computer technology.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
γραφειν (graphein)
“To write or to draw, the root of visual representation.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ger-
“To scratch or to cut, indicating the act of creating marks or images.”