# Why don't Americans use "mate" when talking to others? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 8, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576 "2016-04-08T18:32:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/21 "2016-04-08T19:42:16Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I\*\* love\*\* in Canada. Wrong thread mate. Bolding mine. ---
**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:** [April 8, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/22 "2016-04-08T20:00:16Z")
Yo. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/23 "2016-04-08T20:09:38Z")
Why don’t we use “mate”? Too British, dude. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/24 "2016-04-08T20:10:56Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Yo. Right! Good thinking, yo! How could I forget “yo”, man? ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/25 "2016-04-08T20:12:45Z")
When I hear ‘mate’, I think husband or wife, so for me, at least, it would be a confusing usage to refer to a pal or friends as a mate. ---
**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:** [April 8, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/26 "2016-04-08T20:17:39Z")
> [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Right! Good thinking, yo! How could I forget “yo”, man? 😃 It’s my go-to. And depending on inflection it can be anything from a friendly invitation to frolic all the way to fighting words. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/27 "2016-04-08T21:06:14Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Wrong thread mate. Wrong KINDA mate. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/28 "2016-04-08T21:40:39Z")
If I haven’t put my penis in you, you aren’t my mate. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/29 "2016-04-08T23:02:01Z")
I thought in Canada, you used “eh.” ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/30 "2016-04-08T23:03:03Z")
PS: In Brooklyn, the go-to is “motherfucker.” ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/31 "2016-04-08T23:07:53Z")
In the CG, we might call someone “shipmate”. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/32 "2016-04-08T23:14:50Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > In the CG, we might call someone “shipmate”. I like that. Very Father Mapple. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/33 "2016-04-08T23:22:48Z")
“We like to say ‘What’s up, guy?’ It’s our way to say hi. In February It is good to know a plow guy” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qjxraD723Ks/hqdefault.jpg "GRANITE STATE OF MIND by SSP and Jay Z full video the super secret project") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjxraD723Ks) ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/34 "2016-04-08T23:30:01Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > That’s a poor title, I know. I just couldn’t think of a good way to phrase it. > > I just got back from Australia and was called “mate” on a fairly regular basis. I believe that the British use the term frequently as well. In Mexico, “amigo” is thrown about regularly. IME, in America we don’t really have a similar usage. Are we less friendly? Are we more formal? > > I don’t have a good theory but I’m curious to the thoughts of others. i think we just have more than one term which we pick based on the situation or the social circle. “Man,” “dude,” “buddy,” etc. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/35 "2016-04-08T23:35:17Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > PS: In Brooklyn, the go-to is “motherfucker.” Ooh, harsh bro. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/36 "2016-04-09T01:27:15Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > You’re saying ‘mate’!? Damn, I was wondering why that guy was calling me a ‘mite’. That funny, **TriBROlar**! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/37 "2016-04-09T01:52:23Z")
I am reading a book about WWII in the Pacific, and it mentions that American servicemen stationed in Australia got into the habit of calling other guys “mate”. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/38 "2016-04-09T01:52:50Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > That funny, **TriBROlar**! TriPALar! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/39 "2016-04-09T02:40:28Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I am reading a book about WWII in the Pacific, and it mentions that American servicemen stationed in Australia got into the habit of calling other guys “mate”. Don’t ask, don’t tell!! ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576/40 "2016-04-09T03:16:06Z")
I think you have the question backwards. Mate means well, your mate. Someone you have sex with. Not a friend. Well, ok, sometimes you mate with a friend. Why do you call your friends and buddies “mates” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-use-mate-when-talking-to-others/751576.md?page=3)