Gee is an old-fashioned exclamation people use to express surprise, enthusiasm, or wonder. You might say “Gee, that's amazing!” when your friend shows you their science project, or “Gee whiz, I didn't know you could do that!” when someone performs an impressive skateboard trick.

The word sounds mild and innocent, which is exactly what it is: a gentle way to show emotion without using stronger language. Your great-grandparents probably said “gee” all the time. You'll hear it in old movies and books, where characters say things like “Aw, gee, that's too bad” or “Golly gee!”

While “gee” isn't as common today as it once was, it still appears in phrases like “gee whiz” or when someone says something sarcastically: “Oh gee, thanks a lot” (meaning they're not actually thankful).

The word has a completely different meaning when talking to horses: farmers and riders say “gee” to command a horse to turn right, while “haw” means turn left.