Pronunciation: [d͡ʒˈa͡ɪb] (IPA) 
The word "jibe" is often confused with "jive", but they have different meanings. "Jibe" means to agree or be in harmony, while "jive" refers to a style of music or language. The spelling of "jibe" is pronounced as /dʒaɪb/, with a soft "j" sound, an "i" sound as in "eye", and a voiced "b" at the end. This spelling is important to remember to avoid any misunderstandings in communication.
jibe (verb):
1. To agree or correspond with; to be in harmony or accordance; to be compatible with. For example:
- The witness's testimony didn't jibe with the other evidence presented in court.
- His version of the story just didn't jibe with what actually happened.
2. To taunt, mock, or jeer at someone in a contemptuous or sarcastic manner. For example:
- The bullies would often jibe at the new student because of his accent.
- She felt hurt when her colleagues jibed at her for making a simple mistake.
3. (nautical) To change direction by shifting the sails, typically so as to keep the wind behind the sailboat. For example:
- The sailor skillfully jibed the sails to counter the shifting wind.
- It's important to jibe the boat correctly to optimize its speed and stability.
4. (dialectal) To shift or switch abruptly, sometimes unexpectedly. For example:
- Her mood can jibe from happiness to anger in a matter of minutes.
- The conversation jibed from a friendly discussion to a heated debate.
In each usage, "jibe" emphasizes the idea of alignment, whether it is to describe compatibility or agreement, to mock or taunt, to navigate a sailboat, or to shift unexpectedly. The word carries connotations of harmony, adjustment, and coherence in various contexts, highlighting the importance of being in accord, whether it involves ideas, actions, or even wind and sails.
Among seamen, to veer a vessel; to turn a vessel round with her stern to the wind when she cannot be stayed.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "jibe" has an etymology that is rooted in nautical language. It originated from a sailing term used to describe when a ship changes direction by shifting the sails from one side to the other. This maneuver is known as "gybing" or "jibing". Over time, the term "jibe" began to be used metaphorically in English to refer to other situations where there is a sudden change in course or alignment, such as in conversation or actions.
