The GNU Project was launched in 1984 to develop a complete Unix-like operating system which is free software: the GNU system. Variants of the GNU operating system, which use the kernel called Linux, are now widely used; though these systems are often referred to as “Linux”, they are more accurately called GNU/Linux systems. GNU is a recursive acronym for “GNU's Not Unix”; it is pronounced guh-noo, approximately like canoe.
Ang proyektong GNU ay inilunsad noong 1984 para makapagdebelop ng isang kumpletong UNIX na istilo ng operating system na libre ang software: ang sistemang GNU. (Ang GNU ay isang paulit-ulit na acronym para sa “GNU Not UNIX” o GNU Hindi UNIX; ang pagbigkas nito ay “guh-noo.”) Ang iba pang mga anyo ng operating system ng GNU, na gumagamit ng kernel Linux, ay malawakan na ngayong ginagamit; bagama’t ang mga sistemang ito ay malimit na tinutukoy na “Linux,” mas tama silang tawaging mga sistemang GNU/Linux.