If you don’t play a lot of competitive video games, you may have heard the acronym “GG” for the first time on social media or from a gamer friend. Find out what it means and how to use it.
“Good game”
GG stands for “good game.” In competitive multiplayer games, GG is used as a mark of fair play and an acknowledgment that you had fun while fighting your opponents. For many players, it is standard practice to write GG in the chat at the end of each game. It is similar to a handshake or hug at the end of a live sporting event.
The practice of saying GG has been around from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. As online multiplayer competitive games like Quake and StarCraft gained popularity, the idiom of the internet began to take shape as well. Saying GG to your opponents at the end of the round became part of proper etiquette in these games.
However, GG is not always used in a positive way. Using GG prematurely is considered BM or “bad manners.” For example, texting GG before winning the match because you feel too sure of the result is rude. It’s especially embarrassing if you end up losing in the end. Avoid typing GG before the match actually ends.
GGWP and other variations
There are a few variations of GG that can be used. A common extension of the acronym is GGWP, which stands for “good game, well played.” This is often said to imply that the opponent did a good job during the match, especially if he managed to win the game from behind. This is in contrast to GLHF, which means “good luck, have fun”, which is said at the start of the match instead of at the end.
Another variation of GG is GGEZ, which stands for “good game, easy.” It can be used by someone on the winning side in a derogatory way after a dominant performance. However, this is considered rude.
GGEZ is most commonly used ironically by the winning team or the losing team. When it is used by the winning team, it is usually at the end of a long and difficult match that could have gone either way. When used by the losing side, it is usually after an explosive game to indirectly congratulate the winners.
Using GG in real life
Like many popular internet acronyms, GG has also passed into real-life usage. It is used a lot in conversations outside of video games. If you and a friend are betting on a sports game or playing a friendly game of one-on-one basketball, you can say GG afterwards. It has also become commonplace in some competitive offline events, such as professional poker.
You can also use it in conversations that have nothing to do with matches. GG can be used to show exasperation or to give up something. For example, if you accidentally burn toast, you can say “GG toast.” It can also be used to indicate that a situation is ominous or difficult to handle. If you’re about to take a test you didn’t study for, it might be appropriate to say to your friend, “I didn’t study, GG.”
Both GGEZ and GGWP can also be used in non-competitive contexts. You can say GGEZ if something turns out to be easier than expected, such as if you pass the exam without studying for it. On the other hand, GGWP can be used in the context of congratulating someone on a job well done. If your friends manage to throw you a surprise party without your knowledge, you can tell them GGWP to indicate that they did a good job of keeping it a secret.
How to use G.G.
If you’re playing an online game, saying GG is a polite and easy way to end the game on a good note. You can also use it in real life, in various ways.
Here are some proper ways to use GG:
What a match. gg.
GGWP, you picked the perfect gift for me!
Yesterday I completely forgot to deliver the documentation. GG, my boss is going to be mad.
I managed to find your house without Google Maps, GGEZ.
For more internet acronyms, check out our articles on IRL and SMH.
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