- An informal term for a friend.
- Also commonly used in some regions (esp. UK/Aus/NZ) as a casual, friendly form of address to another person, often between men, but also used by/to women, and sometimes to strangers in informal situations.
Explanation
Origin
- Comes from Middle English mate, meaning companion or associate, likely derived from Low German words for comrade.
- Its use as a familiar term of address has a long history, often associated with sailors, soldiers, and working-class communities, emphasizing camaraderie.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal Addresses:
- UK: Bruv, Pal, Guv, Boss, Son (older man to younger man), Love/Duck/Pet (regional/gendered, can be seen as familiar or patronizing)
- US/Can: Buddy, Pal, Man, Dude, Bro, Boss, Chief, Hon (can be patronizing)
- Aus/NZ: Mate (dominant), Bro
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal.
- Extremely common and generally acceptable in casual settings (pubs, shops, among friends, sports events) in regions where it's prevalent.
- Use with caution with strangers; while often fine, some might find it overly familiar depending on context and tone.
- Can sound out of place or overly casual in formal business settings or when addressing someone with significantly higher status.
- Tone is critical; avoid using it aggressively.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- North Americans might find the frequency of its use (especially to strangers) unusual.
- The primary risk is misjudging the situation and using it when a more formal address is appropriate, or using a tone that comes across as aggressive rather than friendly.
Examples
- He's my best mate. (Friend)
- Alright, mate? How's it going? (Greeting/Address)
- Cheers, mate! (Thanks/Address)
- Excuse me, mate, have you got the time? (Addressing a stranger informally)
- Don't worry about it, mate. (Reassurance/Address)
Dialogue
Context
(In a shop)
Customer: Excuse me, mate, do you know where the batteries are?
Shop Assistant: Yeah, mate, aisle 5, halfway down on your left.
Customer: Cheers, mate.
Shop Assistant: No worries, mate.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Big shout out to my mates who helped me move this weekend! Couldn't have done it without you. #legends
- FB Comment: Good on ya, mate! Well done!
- Instagram Caption (photo of friends): Out with the mates.
Response Patterns
- To a greeting: Reciprocal greeting (Alright, mate?, Yeah, good thanks, you?).
- To thanks: Acknowledgment (No worries, Alright, You're welcome).
- When addressed: Simply respond to the question or statement.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After a greeting:
- Engage in small talk (What have you been up to?).
- Continue with the reason for approaching them.
After being addressed as 'mate':
- Simply continue the conversation naturally.
Conversation Starter
- Yes, often used as part of an informal greeting (Alright, mate?) to initiate conversation.
Intonation
- Generally friendly and casual.
- As a greeting (Alright, MATE?), often has a rising intonation.
- As thanks (Cheers, MATE) or reassurance, often has a falling intonation.
- Stress usually falls on MATE.
- Tone is crucial; said aggressively (Listen here, MATE...), it becomes confrontational.
Generation Differences
- Used across generations in UK/Aus/NZ, particularly common among men but widely used by all in informal contexts.
Regional Variations
- Hallmark of British, Australian, and New Zealand English. Extremely prevalent.
- Also used in South Africa and Ireland.
- Much less common as a general term of address in North America, where it often specifically signals a connection to the UK/Aus/NZ or sounds foreign. Buddy, pal, man, dude are more common NA equivalents.