# I'm looking for some friendly type names to call people **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 13, 2014, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518 "2014-11-13T09:55:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/41 "2014-11-13T21:51:43Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > I know that it is a bad idea to call people names that reflect on their physical appearance such as “shorty” or “big guy”. Well then I guess “sloppytits” is right out. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/42 "2014-11-14T00:36:34Z")
“Old sport”. ---
**Author:** ![slowlearner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@slowlearner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slowlearner)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/43 "2014-11-14T01:05:31Z")
My dad always addressed others as “Sir” and “Ma’am.” Took me years to learn that there is no better way to address anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/44 "2014-11-14T01:07:48Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > That nobody calls you “Wheelz” on the regular kind of bums me out. I get variations on this from time to time. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/45 "2014-11-14T01:08:59Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > Homeboy > Homeslice > Homeflame > Homecheese > > Guy I worked with high school talked to everyone like this. He was white. For some reason, the mental image of a white dude walking into a classroom and exclaiming, “Hey HOMECHEESE!” is really, really hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/46 "2014-11-14T02:01:46Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Duck? “Mind the Gap” is all kinda cool, but “duck”?😕 Vwhy not a chicken? (You hadda expect that one) ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/47 "2014-11-14T02:14:11Z")
I’m reminded of some movie where two guys are faking an argument as a distraction. One bumps into the other. “Watch it, buddy” shove “I’m not your buddy, pal” Shove “I’m not your pal, friend” Shove “I’m not your friend, buddy” Shove; etc. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/48 "2014-11-14T02:20:24Z")
That older dude on Murphy Brown: Slugger, Tiger, Killer… Sinatra-esque: Pally, Buddy-Boy… ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/49 "2014-11-14T04:37:48Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > I have often tried to use “gorgeous” when talking to a lady - especially if she really is gorgeous. > > She doesn’t seem to mind that if only the two of us can hear. But if other people are within earshot, then she usually objects to my calling her that. I can understand that. Am I misunderstanding the purpose of this thread? You were in that [other thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17774661&postcount=13) objecting to assumed familiarity by retail staff and now you start a thread asking how to perpetuate it yourself?!! You hate being called “Big Guy” but you have no problem addressing women you don’t know as “gorgeous”? Is this Opposite Day? ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/50 "2014-11-14T09:50:37Z")
The words you are looking for aren’t necessarily hypocorisms, but they probably overlap somewhat. Here’s what I found by a quick Google search on “list of hypocorisms”: > **[Hypocorism List](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p3S_lDvpa8g5xmWll_XUgENqwO6TTgqUUQmoq0Q7Lrs/edit?hl=en_US&pli=1)** > > Hypocorisms    Huh? hypocorism 1: a pet name 2: the use of pet names (Thank you, Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary - 1975) When separated, The L.O.M.L (Love-Of-My-Life) and I found that Chatting online helps ease the frustration of being... ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/51 "2014-11-14T12:22:25Z")
Guys: Sparky Gals: Toots ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/52 "2014-11-14T14:03:36Z")
I use “babe” with females a lot. I think it only works because I’m female. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/53 "2014-11-14T14:10:10Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > I use “babe” with females a lot. I think it only works because I’m female. Heh. I’m a guy but I used to use “babe” semi-ironically. I once asked a bartender/friend to send a drink to “the babe at the end of the bar”. I thought I was being very clear, but she gave the wrong woman a drink from me and I had a difficult time extricating myself from the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/54 "2014-11-14T17:53:37Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > The little Indian man that sells me sodas in the bodega downstairs calls me “Boss” and I kind of like that. On a side note, don’t let anyone who’s ever been to prison call you “boss”. It’s an ex-con’s way of insulting you. “Boss” backwards is “SSOB”, for “Stupid Son Of a Bitch”. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/55 "2014-11-14T18:01:06Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > On a side note, don’t let anyone who’s ever been to prison call you “boss”. It’s an ex-con’s way of insulting you. “Boss” backwards is “SSOB”, for “Stupid Son Of a Bitch”. Now you’ve gone and done it! GrandWino is known to carry a shiv! Look out, Little Big Man! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/56 "2014-11-14T18:45:47Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > On a side note, don’t let anyone who’s ever been to prison call you “boss”. It’s an ex-con’s way of insulting you. “Boss” backwards is “SSOB”, for “Stupid Son Of a Bitch”. Inmates can tend to make any term insulting, so it pays to have a thick skin if you deal with them regularly. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/57 "2014-11-14T19:05:55Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > I use “babe” with females a lot. I think it only works because I’m female. I’m sorry, sweet-cheeks, but _“babe”_ as a term of endearment for women shows a significant degree of disrespect, in my humble opinion. _“Toots”_ is definitely a better way to express blandishment toward the fairer sex…and I say that as a guy who knows what broads like. _“Toots”_ works with gals of all type: strangers, acquaintances, nickel throwers, private masseuses, nuns…the whole kit and caboodle. I even called my dearly departed nana by that name: _“Hey, toots! How ‘bout parkin’ your big keister in the kitchen and throwin’ some flapjacks on the griddle already!”_ Aw, that nana, she was a good ol’ broad! May she rest in peace. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/58 "2014-11-14T19:18:52Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > On a side note, don’t let anyone who’s ever been to prison call you “boss”. It’s an ex-con’s way of insulting you. “Boss” backwards is “SSOB”, for “Stupid Son Of a Bitch”. Huh. Wouldn’t that mean you’re the opposite of a stupid son of a bitch? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/59 "2014-11-15T00:50:23Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > On a side note, don’t let anyone who’s ever been to prison call you “boss”. It’s an ex-con’s way of insulting you. “Boss” backwards is “SSOB”, for “Stupid Son Of a Bitch”. That has all the hallmarks of an urban legend. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2014, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518/60 "2014-11-15T01:34:30Z")
The oddest term of address from someone I didn’t know when I was in the UK (along with all the ones mentioned above) was: **chap** Thanks _chap_. Can I help, _chap_. :eek: _Good chap_ I get, and use. But the above phrases were really odd. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-some-friendly-type-names-to-call-people/704518.md?page=4)