Buzz
Distinguishing between two similar English words, such as effect and affect or disinterested and uninterested, can already be challenging. Add a third term, and it might seem overwhelming to use them accurately. A perfect example is the trio: jive, jibe, and gibe.
Gibe, the oldest of the three, dates back to the 16th century. It can function as a verb, meaning “to mock” or “to jeer,” according to the Oxford English Dictionary, or as a noun referring to such taunts. The confusion arises because jibe is an alternate spelling of gibe. Thus, a playground bully might hurl either jibes or gibes at their peers.
During the 19th century, jibe gained another meaning: “to agree” or “to align with.” Though its origin is uncertain, the OED speculates it might derive from the word chime. For instance, if a detective discovers evidence that conflicts with their main theory, they might say the new information doesn’t jibe with their existing knowledge.
In the 1920s, jive emerged, often referring to talk or conversation that was misleading, insincere, or outright incorrect. While its precise origins remain unclear, Black Americans, particularly in Harlem, played a key role in bringing it into the mainstream. Over time, jive also evolved to signify jazz (especially swing music) and the style of dance associated with it.
This is where things become even more perplexing: By the 1940s, as noted by the OED, jive began to be used to mean both “to mock” and “to make sense; to align with.” Essentially, English speakers have been conflating jive with jibe (or gibe) for nearly 80 years—so long that the OED now acknowledges these two unintended definitions of jive as legitimate.
However, not everyone accepts this. To avoid needing to explain this entire article to prove you didn’t misuse jive, here are some clear rules to follow:
- Use gibe when referring to mocking or taunting.
- Use jibe when referring to agreement or harmony.
- Use jive when referring to deceptive talk or jazz. (The Bee Gees’ 1975 hit “Jive Talkin’” can serve as a handy reminder.)
