Mate (colloquialism)
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- This article is about the slang term referring to a friend. For other uses, see Mate.
Mate is a colloquialism used to refer to a friend commonly used in the Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Ireland.
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[edit] Origin
It is a colloquialism with sketchy origins, although it is theorised that it started with use by dock workers in the Victorian era. It might also be derived from the Dutch word 'maat' which means the same as mate in English. The term mate and the concept of mateship was popularised in World War I by Australian and New Zealand soldiers. The term was considered to be a contracted form of mutual aid, though whether this is the term's actual origin is unknown. It is also common, especially amongst young males, to refer to friends as "mates".
[edit] Usage
Mate is also often used to address strangers as a nicety, although generally good friends or good mates refer to each other as "mate". It is also common, especially amongst young males, to refer to friends as "mates". When the term is used outside Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, or Ireland, mate is generally seen as referring to copulation.
[edit] International Equivalent
Mate is equivalent to man or buddy in the United States and Canada.
