Informal English usage and possible translation issues

[j.p.s]

For better or worse, for some reason, it has become acceptable to informally address or refer to a mixed gender group as "guys" in at least some circles in at least some contexts.

Are there any languages with a word with the same usage, and translation mechanisms (dictionary, software, other) that would map that word to "men"?

I'm assuming there many translation mechanism language combinations which map an inherently male informal reference to "men", but that is not in the scope of this thread.

[Sirtel]

Just from curiosity, I tried with Google Translate and a few Estonian words, but I never got "men" as a result. I got either "guys" or "people" or "humans". Unless I used the direct equivalent of the word "men", meaning adult male humans.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

For better or worse, for some reason, it has become acceptable to informally address or refer to a mixed gender group as "guys" in at least some circles in at least some contexts.

Are there any languages with a word with the same usage, and translation mechanisms (dictionary, software, other) that would map that word to "men"?

I think both are a cultural niche. I don't see either widespread here, nor remember it when I was in England.

Regional variations
In England it's rude to refer to adult women as girls, even if they are young. In Ireland it can be regard as merely friendly, hence 'Fine girl you are'. Not even young or single women, but depends on context. A group of men might be the lads or the boys; there was never the usage of calling an adult servant / slave / serf 'boy' like in Southern USA States.

A woman going out with group of young women in the evening (Ireland), might refer to 'the girls' or curiously 'the lads', but not Lassies, nor the Women, and rarely the Ladies (except golfers?).

It grates to read a post on a form starting 'Men,' and I never saw that till recently, and only by one person.

There are many terms in England used abusively which are not abusive here in Ireland. We have our own local abuse terms here such as Jackeen, Culchie, Tinker, Traveller, Shinner (SF party supporter), Prod, Taig, Fenian, etc.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

For better or worse, for some reason, it has become acceptable to informally address or refer to a mixed gender group as "guys" in at least some circles in at least some contexts.

I personally loathe being addressed as "guys" which has even occurred as part of a women-only group. It's been a longstanding objection and I was happy to read recently that it's falling out of favor, as people become more aware of misgendering issues.

There's no justification for the use of it. There's nothing at all wrong with addressing a group of people, whether single or mixed gender, as "you", and avoiding the issue altogether.

[slm]

When my daughter was home visiting from college a few years ago, she started addressing my wife and I as "you all".

She had never used that term before she went away to college so I asked about it.

At the time, she was the captain of the college swim team (all women) and she explained that when she spoke to the team, she had found that "guys", "girls" and "women" all resulted in pushback from one or more team members. "You-all" offended no one, apparently.

[Quoth]

Re: Guys

Originally Posted by issybird

There's no justification for the use of it. There's nothing at all wrong with addressing a group of people, whether single or mixed gender, as "you", and avoiding the issue altogether.

Agreed.
And in parts of Ireland
you (or ye) is singular
youse (or you) is plural (I suppose like USA Y'all)
Really 16th C.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Re: Guys

Agreed.
And in parts of Ireland
you (or ye) is singular
youse (or you) is plural (I suppose like USA Y'all)
Really 16th C.

In some languages (Estonian, Russian, presumably others) the singular you and the plural you are two different words also. It's considered polite to use the plural you with strangers, although this custom is starting to disappear with younger generations.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

In some languages (Estonian, Russian, presumably others) the singular you and the plural you are two different words also. It's considered polite to use the plural you with strangers, although this custom is starting to disappear with younger generations.

Perhaps also German and French?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Perhaps also German and French?

I think so, although Google Translate didn't share that opinion and gave me the same translation for both singular and plural you.

[Apache]

My father was in the military, and I grew up all over the place. My mother was from Northwestern Illinois, and we used to visit whenever possible. I would hang out with my cousins and their friends. The groups were usually a mixture of boys and girls. I thought it was strange that they would always use the term guys when referring to everyone in the group.
Apache

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Just from curiosity, I tried with Google Translate and a few Estonian words, but I never got "men" as a result. I got either "guys" or "people" or "humans". Unless I used the direct equivalent of the word "men", meaning adult male humans.

Thank you. It always warms my heart when I see curiosity motivating action.

So I guess the poster using "men" to address is not Estonian.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by Quoth

A group of men might be the lads or the boys; there was never the usage of calling an adult servant / slave / serf 'boy' like in Southern USA States.

In the SE USA emphatically calling someone well into adulthood and beyond "boy" was by no means limited to targeting people in a subservient position, much less actual slaves. It was common 50 years ago and I doubt that it has completely died out, especially in one on one encounters with no witnesses.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by slm

When my daughter was home visiting from college a few years ago, she started addressing my wife and I as "you all".

She had never used that term before she went away to college so I asked about it.

At the time, she was the captain of the college swim team (all women) and she explained that when she spoke to the team, she had found that "guys", "girls" and "women" all resulted in pushback from one or more team members. "You-all" offended no one, apparently.

I would have thought that each team would have a long established term.

It is interesting that your daughter had to cast around until hitting something that worked.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by Apache

My father was in the military, and I grew up all over the place. My mother was from Northwestern Illinois, and we used to visit whenever possible. I would hang out with my cousins and their friends. The groups were usually a mixture of boys and girls. I thought it was strange that they would always use the term guys when referring to everyone in the group.
Apache

I didn't know the usage went back that far.

I do think that there are a lot of regional usages that are strange and confusing to people from elsewhere.

[slm]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

I would have thought that each team would have a long established term.

It is interesting that your daughter had to cast around until hitting something that worked.

I think this was (and still may be) a transition period. And her college was somewhat on the bleeding edge of the transition. Some of the team members, for example, did not want to be identified as female, for example.

(I think the coach, who was of a much earlier generation, continued to address the team as "ladies")