do austrailian people seriously always say "mate" after every sentence???
2007-01-15 21:37:45 · 18 answers · asked by Flafibopsicles 3 in Travel ➔ Australia ➔ Other - Australia
we have lilved in Aus for 12 years now and mix with many different people non~australian as well as Aussies and I have noticed "mate" is not actually used by close friends.I think it depends on the relationship between the people.For example the guys my husband works with all call each other "mate" and they use it as a friendly term among workers but they would not class themselves as close friends.I have heard it used by people who are umfamiliar with each other and maybe meeting for the first time as a warm gesture ...well thats just my opinion
2007-01-15 23:51:15 · answer #1 · answered by jambutty 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope. Not always. The word mate is used a lot in more middle class areas. It's common but not so common that we use it all the time. I actually can't remember the last time I heard it!
2007-01-16 05:56:55 · answer #2 · answered by JenniferD 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most likely to be heard briefly addressing a total stranger, so if your contact with Australians was limited to stopping and asking them for directions, yes, that's what you would hear.
In Western Australia, Queensland, and NZ it's not uncommon to hear "ay?" tacked onto the end of sentences.
2007-01-18 05:10:09 · answer #3 · answered by moblet 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mate is used when we either do not know a persons name or know but cannot remember a persons name mainly.Some one in the street says hello you can,t remember their name substitute how are you mate its a cover up for your bad memory.
2007-01-16 15:10:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Some men call their male friends "mate" just like some lower class men still do in England.
2007-01-16 05:55:28 · answer #5 · answered by le païen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, we say 'mate' at the end of every sentence, we also drink ridiculous amounts of beer, have pet kangaroos and wear thongs (flip-flops) all the time.
2007-01-16 23:43:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i agree with dancer,people from all walks of life use mate weather it be someone who just sold you the news paper-and you say thanks mate
or meeting up with a good friend-and you greet them with how are you mate. i don't think people use it after every sentence though.and to the american above it sounds alot better than the american equivolent buddy/bud or man
2007-01-16 07:05:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know a couple of Australians, and no that is not true. Not after every sentence.
True they do use the expression but not after everything they say.
2007-01-16 05:43:34 · answer #8 · answered by london.oval 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not after every sentence, but for an American working in Australia, I easily find it annoying as they say it very often.
2007-01-16 05:58:03 · answer #9 · answered by jimmyct_2000 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yeah mate!
2007-01-16 05:46:04 · answer #10 · answered by of Light 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋