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.
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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.
Mate ( MAH-tay; Spanish: mate [ˈmate], Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈmatʃi]) is a traditional Argentine, Paraguayan, Uruguayan and Brazilian caffeine-rich infused herbal drink.
"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?”
“Mate ( MAH-tay; Spanish: mate [ˈmate], Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈmatʃi]) is a traditional Argentine, Paraguayan, Uruguayan and Brazilian caffeine-rich infused herbal drink.”
“The leaves of the plant can be steeped in hot water to make a beverage known as mate.”
“A very similar preparation, known as mate cocido, removes some of the plant material and sometimes comes in tea bags.”
“Yerba mate or yerba maté ( YUR-bə MAH-tay), Ilex paraguariensis, is a plant species of the holly genus native to South America.”
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A suitable companion; a match; an equal.
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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 ship's officer, subordinate to the master on a commercial ship.
A friend, usually of the same sex.
The abovementioned plant; the leaves and shoots used for the tea
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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 arrange in matched pairs.
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To match oneself against; to oppose as equal; to compete with.
To confuse; to confound.
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To pair in order to raise offspring.
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To match, fit together without space between.
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To come together as companions, comrades, partners, etc.
To fit (objects) together without space between.
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The other member of a matched pair of objects.
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To introduce (animals) together for the purpose of breeding.
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To marry; to match (a person).
To move (a space shuttle orbiter) onto the back of an aircraft that can carry it.
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, an aromatic tea-like drink prepared from the holly yerba maté ().
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