It’s that time again when we’re busy buying, wrapping, and giving them. Sometimes we call them gifts, sometimes presents. Is there a difference?
The words come to us from different language families. Gift comes from the old Germanic root for “to give.” It referred to an act of giving, and then, to the thing being given. In Old English it meant the dowry given to a bride’s parents. Present comes from the French for "to present." A present is the thing being presented or bestowed. Both words were in use for the idea of something undergoing a transfer of possession without expectation of payment from the 13th century onward.
The words gift and present are well-matched synonyms that mean essentially the same thing, but even well-matched synonyms have their own connotations and distinctive patterns of use. Gift applies to a wider range of situations. Gifts can be talents: You can have the gift of gab, or a musical gift. Gifts can be intangibles: There is the gift of understanding or the gift of a quiet day. We generally don’t use present to describe things like that. Presents are more concrete or a bit more, well, present. If your whole family gave donations to your college fund for your birthday would you say “I got a lot of presents”? It doesn’t exactly sound wrong, but since you never hold these donations in your hand, gifts seems to fit better.
Gift can also be an attributive noun, acting like an adjective to modify another noun. What do you call the type of shop where you can buy presents for people? A gift shop. What do you call the basket of presents that you can have sent to all your employees? A gift basket. Present doesn’t work well in this role of describing other nouns. We have gift boxes, gift cards, and gift wrap, not present boxes, present cards, and present wrap.
Gift appears to be used more frequently than present, though it is difficult to get accurate counts, because if you compare occurrences of the noun present with the noun gift, you include that other noun present, meaning the here and now. However, the plural noun presents captures only the word we want. Gifts outnumbers presents in the Corpus of Contemporary American English by four to one.
Still, according to my personal sense of the words, present—though it may not be as common—is more casual sounding than gift. I expect a child to ask Santa Claus for lots and lots of presents, not many, many gifts. But whether it’s gifts or presents you prefer, I wish you many and lots this year, of both the tangible and intangible kind.
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A version of this story ran in 2018; it has been updated for 2022.
As a language enthusiast and expert, I can confidently delve into the intricacies of the terms "gift" and "present" while providing a nuanced understanding of their origins, usage patterns, and connotations.
Firstly, the etymology of these words is crucial to comprehend their evolution and usage. "Gift" has roots in the old Germanic language, specifically derived from the root meaning "to give." Originally, it denoted both the act of giving and the item given. Interestingly, in Old English, "gift" referred to the dowry given to a bride's parents. On the other hand, "present" finds its roots in the French language, signifying "to present" or bestow. Over time, both words evolved to encompass the idea of transferring possession without expecting payment, and their usage dates back to the 13th century.
While "gift" and "present" are often considered synonymous, they carry distinct connotations and usage patterns. "Gift" has a broader application, extending beyond physical items to include talents or intangibles. For instance, one can possess the gift of gab or a musical gift. In contrast, "present" tends to be more concrete and immediate. The article highlights that presents are perceived as being more tangible, making them a fitting term for items you can physically hold, such as those received for a birthday.
Moreover, "gift" can function as an attributive noun, modifying other nouns, as seen in phrases like "gift shop," "gift basket," and "gift wrap." This role is not as naturally assumed by the term "present." The article emphasizes the prevalence of "gift" in this context, evident in expressions like "gift boxes," "gift cards," and "gift wrap."
Despite the challenge of obtaining precise counts due to potential confusion with the word "present" denoting the current time, the article asserts that "gift" appears to be used more frequently than "present." The Corpus of Contemporary American English reportedly shows a four-to-one ratio in favor of "gift."
In terms of tone and formality, the author expresses a personal sense that "present" is more casual sounding than "gift." This subjective perspective suggests that the choice between the two may carry subtle nuances, with "gift" potentially sounding more formal or traditional.
In conclusion, whether one prefers "gifts" or "presents," the article playfully explores their subtle distinctions and encourages a bountiful year of both tangible and intangible offerings.
