Why do Brits say mate?

Mate is used as a term of endearment, but also frequently used to casually ingratiate oneself with a stranger or new acquaintance. You might refer to a waiter or fellow bar fly using the word 'mate'. When used to address somebody or get their attention, the word mate is usually reserved for men only.
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Why do Aussies and Brits say mate?

The Australian National Dictionary explains that the Australian usages of mate derive from the British word 'mate' meaning 'a habitual companion, an associate, fellow, comrade; a fellow-worker or partner', and that in British English it is now only in working-class use.
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What does mate mean in the UK?

chiefly British : friend, buddy. often used as a familiar form of address. archaic : match, peer.
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Do British people say mate or lad?

Lad isn't that common. It's restricted to parts of the UK. Mate is more common, used throughout the UK, though a bit informal. It's worth noting that the LONGER versions of mate - schoolmate, classmate, and so on, are formal.
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What is the American equivalent of mate?

In America there are a lot of substitutes for mate, most notably, dude. Other than that there are no real popular ones and it's very personalized. Pal, bud, man, and bro are all ones I've heard, and personally I find myself using guy a lot.
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BRITISH ENGLISH SLANG - "Mate"



Do Brits say bro?

bruv. In the US, we have friend terms like bro and bruh. In the UK, they have bruv. Bruv is short for brother, as in “fellow; buddy.” It's a familiar term typically used between male friends, close relations, or even actual brothers.
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Do Australians still say mate?

Today, mate remains a favoured greeting among blokes in Australia, including those who might dust it off more in certain contexts, such as at football games.
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Why do Brits say innit?

' is a contraction of the tag question 'Isn't it? ' and people use it to prompt a response from the listener. So if someone says 'Nice weather, innit? ', they are expecting you to agree and say 'Yes'.
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What is British slang for girls?

'Lass' or 'lassie' is another word for 'girl'. This is mainly in the north of England and Scotland. 'Lad' is another word for boy.
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What is British slang for kiss?

The verb snog is British slang for kiss, cuddle, or make out. It's a word that is more and more common in American English as well, as a casual way to talk about kissing. It can be painful for kids to watch their parents snog, and many of them don't want to see people snog in movies either.
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Do British people still say mate?

The word “mate” is very common in Australian and British English and can help you sound a lot more natural when speaking Englsih in these places. Although it's not used in American English, it is understood by English speakers all over the world.
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Do British people say oi?

Oi /ɔɪ/ is an interjection used in various varieties of the English language, particularly Australian English, British English, Irish English, New Zealand English, and South African English, as well as non-English languages such as Chinese, Hindi/Urdu, Japanese, and Portuguese to get the attention of another person or ...
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What is British slang for friend?

Mate (noun) So, 'mate' is British slang for a friend. But, like a lot of British slang, mate is a word that is used as much sarcastically as it is sincerely. You're just as likely to call someone 'mate' when they're your friend as when they're annoying you.
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What do Aussies call their girlfriends?

Australians don't call their female sweetheart a “girlfriend” or “wife.” They say, “misso/missus.”
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Why do Australians call English Poms?

Australians have been using the word freely since its probable emergence in the late 19th century as a nickname for English immigrants, a short form of pomegranate, referring to their ruddy complexions.
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Why do Australians say oi?

oi (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, usually impolite) Said to get someone's attention; hey.
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How do you say shut up in British slang?

Synonyms of 'shut up' in British English
  1. be quiet.
  2. hush.
  3. fall silent.
  4. button it (slang)
  5. pipe down (slang) Just pipe down and I'll tell you what I want.
  6. hold your tongue.
  7. put a sock in it (British, slang)
  8. keep your trap shut (slang)
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What is British slang for wife?

Trouble and Strife is Cockney slang for Wife. Trouble and Strife is classic Cockney Rhyming Slang.
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What does YEET mean in British?

to throw something with a lot of force: He just grabbed my phone and yeeted it into the river. Yeet me that water bottle. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Throwing.
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What is the most British thing to say?

British Slang
  • To nick – To take/steal.
  • Boot – When talking about a car, the boot is the trunk.
  • Brolly – British slang term for umbrella.
  • Dim – Not a compliment, this is used to describe someone that is not very smart.
  • Innit? ...
  • Miffed – Annoyed.
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What is British slang for hungry?

Peckish - to be a little hungry. This is a casual word, mostly used in British English. "There's some biscuits here if you are feeling peckish."
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What is British slang for boring?

Dry – dull, boring.
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Do British people say bloody?

Bloody, as an adjective or adverb, is a commonly used expletive attributive in British English, Australian English, Irish English, Indian English and a number of other Commonwealth nations. It has been used as an intensive since at least the 1670s.
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Do British people say cheers?

Cheers. Americans and British people both say “cheers” when they are out drinking and clink their glasses together. The difference is that people from the UK also use “cheers” to mean “thank you”.
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What country says mate the most?

Aussies. It started in Great Britain, but nowadays only lower class Brits say “mate”. Most Aussies call their friends mate all the time.
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