The article provides a philosophical analysis of theoretical approaches to the phenomenon of gift, presents current interpretations of the concept of "gift" in the culture of peoples, describes the meanings and meanings of gift exchange in modern philosophical discourse. Features of the formation of the meaning of this phenomenon are presented on the empirical material of research interviews. The purpose of the study was to substantiate the concept of "gift" as a backbone for understanding the meanings of the identified ethno-cultural types of relationships.