• Slang – Mate
  • Meaning – Friend. This expression is usually used to refer to male friends but is increasingly being used to refer to female friends as well.
  • This slang is extremely common British and Australian slang.
  • This expression can be used in negative way – to signify that a person has upset you or made you angry.
    • “Mate, that’s my girlfriend. Leave her alone.”
  • Mate can also be used as a friendly address to a stranger.
    • “Excuse me mate, can you tell me where the bank is?”
Slang expressions for friends:

Friends are an important part of life. Here are a selection of other expressions we can use to refer to our friends.

  • BFF – Best Friend Forever.
  • Buddy
  • Chum
  • Pal
More uses of mate:
  • Cellmate – Someone you share a prison cell with.
  • Classmate – A person in the same class as you.
  • Flatmate – Someone you share a flat (US – apartment) with.
  • Roommate – Someone you share a room with.
  • Schoolmate – A person at the same school as you.
  • Teammate – Someone in the same team as you.
Example:
  • “My mates are coming over later to watch the footy.“