'No female meaning for gyalis': Chloe Bailey redefines the word with new cover

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Capella Grey’s track Gyalis dropped last year and, flash forward to the present day, singer Chloe Bailey has a brand new take on the song.

Bailey’s cover has racked up more than 5 million views across TikTok, Instagram and Twitter, but some social media users have argued there isn’t a “female meaning for gyalis”.

Confused? We break down the meaning of the word ‘gyalis’ and how Chloe Bailey is stamping her mark on Grey’s track.

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Gyalis meaning explained

Before we get into the thick of it, let’s be clear on exactly what the term ‘gyalis’ means.

Wiwords states ‘gyalis’ defines: “A man who obsessively seduces and deceives women. A promiscuous heterosexual male.”

Likewise, singer Capella Grey sat down with Genius after the release of his track to break down his definition of the word. “Somebody that’s really good with the gyal dem,” he explained. “We keep a good name, everything healthy, everything copacetic.

“This is not even a matter of being promiscuous in terms of s*x or anything. Shorties just like being around you. That’s the gyalis vibe, really.”

The singer goes on to say his song Gyalis was inspired by “a bunch” of situations, as he sings: “But I’m a gyalis/ The city is my palace/ What I’ma do?/ ‘Cause I want she and she and she/ And they love them some me.”

However, Capella Grey came under fire on Twitter for his definition of the word, which critics labelled as “long-winded”.

In response, the artist tweeted: “I tried to give a PG13 version of the definition of Gyalis cuz I thought the first way I said it just sounded too treesh-ish.

“Long story short this is my first taste of the internet frying me. I never been so sorry in my life.”

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Chloe Bailey’s Gyalis cover goes viral

Capella Grey’s Gyalis dropped in August 2021 but, more recently, singer Chloe Bailey performed a cover of the song that racked up more than 2.9 million views on TikTok alone.

Bailey, best known for hits Do It and Have Mercy, put her own twist on the track but came under fire after some Twitter users insisted the term ‘gyalis’ couldn’t have a “female meaning”.

“There is not a female word for gyalis…” one person tweeted.

“What’s a female gyalis?” another asked.

Others praised Bailey for her cover of the song. “Release this now,” one fan said.

Is there a female meaning of gyalis?

According to multiple definitions of the word ‘gyalis’, the term is usually only used in reference to a male.

However, Chloe Bailey has put her own take on the word by switching up the lyrics of the original song.

Bailey sings from the female perspective of the relationship, accusing the male of lying and moving on. In Capella Grey’s version of the song, the rapper talks about trying to seduce a woman.

Shania Wilson

Shania is a Magazine Journalism graduate from the University of Derby. Her main passion is rooted in print journalism, however, she also branches out towards social media and is also interested in public relations. Outside of writing, Shania enjoys using social media, reading, and drinking coffee.