Calling all Aussies! (not Tex-related)

In Australia you find that the term 'mate' is used all over and very often...

Originally we used to use the term mate a lot to signify friendship:

"Me and a few mates are going to the pub later on if you want to come".
Or
"Meet Peter, he's a good mate of mine"

But then the term 'mate' became a polite way of addressing people in general, like when you accidentally bump into someone you would say "sorry mate"... or if you are impressed: "Oh mate, that's awesome!" Think of it as replacing the word 'sir' or 'madam' although we rarely call females 'mate'. So if I had just been introduced to someone, it would be common for me to then say "So mate, how did you meet Peter?" You will find that if someone refers to you using the term mate, they have 'accepted' you... I guess.

However, the term mate can also be used in a condescending manner... so if someone was getting on your nerves you would say: "Now listen here Mate!" or "I've had enough of your $#it mate!"


As far as I know, they use the term mate quite a bit in the UK, but only when talking about friendship... it does not get used in the other abovementioned contexts as much. Although I have been finding that in a lot of US and UK based online forums I am seeing terms like "nice one mate!" pop up here and there.

In terms of the word friend... we do use that too... but only if we were going to say "He's a good friend of mine" as 'friend' is still considered proper lingo... but you would not go around saying "So friend, when are we going to the pub?"


Hope this helps familiarise yourself with our quirky ways!

-Cub. =o)

Very thorough response, Cub! Thanks a lot! Very interesting. I saw on another thread someone say "a mate of mine" - would that be likely to mean a friend or merely an acquaintance? Is it contextually amiguous?

Any other takers? Atomic Vegetable? (I'm trying out the new "?" key on my keyboard! )

Well a "mate of mine" can mean both... the same as you would say "a friend of mine" whether or not you are a good friend or merely know the person you speak of... after all, it is easier to say "a friend of mine" then it is to say "this person I know whom I am not entirely acquainted with".

-Cub. =o)

That's what I figured. Although we often disambiguate it by saying, "an acquaintance of mine".

"So mate, how did you meet Peter?"

hehe this of course would sound something like....

"sow mayt, hawd'ya myat pyetah?"

hehe a litttle harder to type than to say....

and yes, we really do speak like the people in goodwill hunting here in boston... "fack" comes out regularly with good and bad connotations.... and I try very "hahd"? to pronounce my r's (pronounced "ahh's lol)

no worries =)

Cub pretty much summed it up well.

It just becomes integrated into your language when you're here.

"g'day mate, no worries."

and so on...

Down here in NZ we use the term much in the same ways as Cub listed... perhaps less frequently, though.

Good to know...I always like to know if I'm hearing stereotypes of different dialects or the real deal.

If you want some bad/stereotype Aussie accents, checkout the Simpsons down under episode and the majority of Lost.

I too quite often use the term "mate", but at the sametime also use "friend"
Here's a few quotes as I would often say them:
"Thanks mate"
"Watch it mate"
"I know a friend-of-a-friend"
"I'm going out with friends"

I'm sure the Simpsons episode was trying very hard to find and use all the stereotypes. Lost, on the other hand...

How in the world did we get so many Tex fans down under? Is noir really big there?

And is NZ considered "down under"?

Nah... New Zealand are the Kiwis! Although, they have a booming film industry at the moment... speaking of which I just finished my third Lord Of The Rings marathon for this year!

Back on topic... I don't really know why there are so many Tex fans downunder. I guess we are not so different from the Americans in terms of culture.

Maybe us Aussies are all adventurous at heart.

-Cub. =o)

Now here's another one - what determines your use of the term "downunder"? Is it two words?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downunder

...seems pretty accurate. Although we rarely refer to New Zealand as 'Down Under'... we kindly refer to is as: 'New Zealand'... but the inhabitants we refer to as 'Kiwis'. "So you reckon we're gonna beat the Kiwis in the cricket this weekend?"

As to whether it is one word or not... I don't think there is a right an wrong way when you are already speaking slang.

-Cub. =o)

Too true, Peter Jackson has done wonders for film down here. We're also seeing a few game companies start to pop up here and there, as well... here's hoping they share in the same success as our movie industry has.

As for why noir is so popular, I can't honestly say. I know for me it's personal preference, and a few people I know can't stand it.