What does mate means in Australia ?

Show all answers

holly

Friend pal buddy...some of us call everyone mate some address their husbands / wives as mate and some of us save it for special friends.

KynslÃ©y

Can mean a lot: Friend, buddy, pal
It's usually used just to address a person like you would say Mr. or sir. Just that mate is used in a casual context.

The word mate is used for precisely the same effect in New Zealand too.

Ozmaniac

It usually means friend or pal, but in fact you can use it to or about anyone who's not an active enemy.
It can also be used when speaking to someone whose name you don't know and/or in an argument as in "Listen mate, get the f*** out of here!"
Also used when you should know someone's name, but have forgotten it as in "G'day mate; long time no see!"
It's a very handy word.

fruitsalad

buddy, friend

Dan

* Friend
* Pal
* Buddy

It's part of our everyday language.

dont_feed_the_models52

Australians use the word "mate" as you would use "friend" "buddy" "pal" "amigo" whatver. Like "How ya going mate?" or "What are ya doing mate?"

cborg76

Mate
noun:- a general greeting term and familiar greeting amongst men whether a friend or total stranger. Similar to Cobber. I find it amazing that whenever I am abroad and meet another Aussie, I immediately refer to him/her as mate. US = buddy.

Ivy

I think they use it just like the British do meaning: Friend, your mate is your friend.
Iâ€™m not positive that's it as I am not Australian.

crrllpm

Mate is a word we use a lot. It can mean good friend such as "This is my good mate, Tom" or "My mates are coming 'round to play a game of footy". It can be used instead of the person's name as in "Come on mate, it is time to go home." It is a very handy word.

arbitrary k

For foreigners who have not yet been exposed to the crude Australian humor and terminology used. There will be a extreme sense of lost and at times bewilderment and even intriguing times, upon these peculiar group of people. Intriguing at time since, it is often very intriguing, educational and interesting to ponder while observing the ways of life and conventions of such an unknown and weird type of people. Much like, as i can imagine the extreme sense of fear yet curiosity when Scientist or explorers meet or come face-to-face with a new species or un-explored piece of land.

So coming back to the term "mate" while used in the context of Australia and Australians, it refers to a good friend or friend, pal or buddy. But for foreigners could be very ambiguous indeed.

Reproductive Partner??? or Friend ????

iansand9876

Depending on intonation and context it can mean everything from "friend" to "if you come a step closer I will put this pool cue somewhere unpleasant". In the Australian Labor (political) Party it has a special meaning - I am about to do the political dirty on you and stab you in the back.

Mel

Mate means Friend.

To mate means sexually intercourse, usually used for animals not humans.

faithless

It means copulation, when an Australian says Hi, mate? he is inviting you to have intercourse with him.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: