Etymology: From Proto-Germanic jabai (when, if) with anomalous apocope. The expected form is attested once as ġyfe in the early 7th-century Law of Æthelberht, if not simply a scribal error.
Conjunction: ġif
Descendants: Middle English: if, yif, yef
Therefore, “gif” is pronounced with a Y
Edit: Yes, this was a very long way to go for a furry joke
It’s extraordinarily lucky for you then that “gif” entered the English language on or around the PM period during ca. June 15, 1987.
gif
Etymology: From Proto-Germanic jabai (when, if) with anomalous apocope. The expected form is attested once as ġyfe in the early 7th-century Law of Æthelberht, if not simply a scribal error.
Conjunction: ġif
Descendants: Middle English: if, yif, yef
Therefore, “gif” is pronounced with a Y
Edit: Yes, this was a very long way to go for a furry joke