• ϻеƌųʂɑ@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    “Giraffe” etymologistically speaking has roots in the Middle East, giving it a “je” sound: jarraf, zarafa, et al

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    “ultimately from Persian زُرنَاپَا‎ (zurnāpā), a compound of زُرنَا‎ (zurnā, “flute, zurna”) and پَا‎ (pā, “leg”)”.

    So if it’s “Giff” like “giraffe” - /dʒɪf/ - soft g like “George”. If it’s named after someone with a name like Kathy Lee Gifford, then hard G.