Meaning
A ladies' man — a man very successful with women, often juggling several at once. Worn in dancehall as a badge of pride, 'gyalis' is the boast of the player, the smooth operator who has women drawn to him, and 'gyalis fi real' is high self-praise. Built from 'gyal' (girl), it belongs to the music's frank talk of romance and conquest, and it is claimed with swagger far more often than it is used as a criticism.
Examples
-
Him a real gyalis, nuff woman.
He's a real ladies' man, with many women.
-
Di song a boast bout being a gyalis.
The song is boasting about being a ladies' man.
-
Every gyalis meet him match one day.
Every player meets his match one day.
Origin
From 'gyal' (girl) with an '-is' ending — a man defined by his success with girls.
How it’s used
Usually a boast in dancehall culture, though it can be said with an edge, since a 'gyalis' is also a man not to be fully trusted.