mate means Universal Australian and British word for a friend. It's mostly used in Australian informal speech. It's casual and generally safe with friends and online. It's standard online vocabulary; nothing inherently concerning about hearing it.
Universal Australian and British word for a friend.
Universal Australian and British word for a friend. Can also be a warning — "oi, mate" means someone's in trouble. The tone carries everything. Works as greeting, address, filler, passive-aggressive rebuke, and emotional-support punctuation in the same conversation.
mate means Universal Australian and British word for a friend. It's mostly used in Australian informal speech. It's casual and generally safe with friends and online. It's standard online vocabulary; nothing inherently concerning about hearing it.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
Add your own interpretation of "mate".
Aussie and Kiwi vocabulary — bogan, daggy, brekkie, sheila, bach, jandals — the whole Antipodean lexicon, including outback dialect, surf and beach culture, and Sydney/Melbourne street slang.
See all Australian & NZ slang slang on Slangora.
Browse all slang words starting with M.
The leaves of the plant can be steeped in hot water to make a beverage known as mate.
"Cheers, mate — fair dinkum."
mate means Universal Australian and British word for a friend. It's mostly used in Australian informal speech. It's casual and generally safe with friends and online. It's standard online vocabulary; nothing inherently concerning about hearing it.
"mate" is slang. It means: Universal Australian and British word for a friend. Register: casual. Use it in: casual conversation and online posts. Avoid in: formal writing and professional emails.
“Why does “mate” sound friendly and threatening at the same time? 😂”
“Do you think Yowies exist, have you or a mate seen one? I am Scottish and just heard of them, especially in Aboriginal culture. So have you or anyone you know seen one?”
“The leaves of the plant can be steeped in hot water to make a beverage known as mate.”
“Yerba mate or yerba maté ( YUR-bə MAH-tay), Ilex paraguariensis, is a plant species of the holly genus native to South America.”
“Mate ( MAH-tay; Spanish: mate [ˈmate], Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈmatʃi]) is a traditional Argentine, Paraguayan, Uruguayan and Brazilian caffeine-rich infused herbal drink.”
“A very similar preparation, known as mate cocido, removes some of the plant material and sometimes comes in tea bags.”
The abovementioned plant; the leaves and shoots used for the tea
A friend, usually of the same sex.
In naval ranks, a non-commissioned officer or his subordinate (e.g. , , Sailmaker's Mate, etc).
Friendly term of address to a stranger, usually male, of similar age.
A suitable companion; a match; an equal.
A ship's officer, subordinate to the master on a commercial ship.
To match, fit together without space between.
To come together as companions, comrades, partners, etc.
A fellow, comrade, colleague, partner or someone with whom something is shared, e.g. shipmate, classmate.
A technical assistant in certain trades (e.g. gasfitter's mate, plumber's mate); sometimes an apprentice.
To match oneself against; to oppose as equal; to compete with.
To arrange in matched pairs.
To confuse; to confound.
To pair in order to raise offspring.
To marry; to match (a person).
To move (a space shuttle orbiter) onto the back of an aircraft that can carry it.
, an aromatic tea-like drink prepared from the holly yerba maté ().
To introduce (animals) together for the purpose of breeding.
To fit (objects) together without space between.
The other member of a matched pair of objects.