Why do Americans use the word dude?

Question

They use this word a lot, like we use 'mate'.....Ok, obviously it's there form of the word 'mate', but what does it actually mean? Is it just like buddy/pal, or something?

Answer 1

it's just another word like chap, or cat or homie, you know.......just another word.

Answer 2

Originally, the word 'dude' meant simply a man who was well-dressed, possibly from "duds" another word for "clothes." .

The hippies began using it as a slang term for "guy" (British chap; bloke) in the late 1960's and early 70's. By the 1990's, a younger generation of Americans in California was using it as a hip form of address and "Dude" even became the name of the lingo they used - the male equivalent of Val-Talk.

Actually, most Americans still don't seem to use "Dude.". Its use is primarily on the West Coast, especially California. I hear it occasionally in Seattle where I live.

On the other hand , I never hear it used by people calling into radio talk shows from places like New York, New Jersey, Louisville, Atlanta etc. Nor do I see it on e-mails coming from these places. In other words, it's a demographic thing.

Answer 3

As you said it is just like buddy or pal. I suspect (but do not know) that it comes from "dude" ranches, with the dude being the amateur horseman being trained by professionals. So if someone were a dude they would be just an ordinary person, rather than a professional (horseman); therefore, if just regular, they'd be like you and I; so a dude is a regular guy.

Damn that sounds like it's probably true!

Answer 4

The word was first familiarised in London in 1881, and is a revival of the old word dudes (clothes).

"Dude" is a slang term usually referring to young men considered cool or hip. Young males tend to use this term as it represents a philosophy of solidarity and independence.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the term "dude" was a popular part of African-American slang that was used by both males and females in referring to a male or males

Also;
A nickname for a person you don't know
Slang;fellow; chap.
A person reared in a large city.

Answer 5

Dude, what's up!
Dude just means the same as mate, because I rarely hear the word mate used over here. "Dude" came from surfers in California and is common everywhere now. It's used mostly when talking to guys, but also to girls. We use it as an informal greeting to our friends.

Answer 6

Its just a generic word to address a person. Mate seems a little personal, like we both live in the same cave so I never use that one. Here's my poem.

Dudish Dude
A Dudepie
From the Duderanch
Duders

Answer 7

1) Originally, “dude” meant a stuck up person who dressed overly well. It first emerged in the year 1883 in England.

2) Later it was used in the old west to mean a city person who moved to the west without actually know what he was doing. Synonymous with “city-slicker”

3) Later, in California, the term changed from these insults to a term meaning any male, human or otherwise. Sometimes it is used in reference to tom-girls. Now, it is often used for emphasis as well.

Answer 8

I could ask why Austrailans use mate but the answer is all the same. It's a form of common ground commraderie to address everyone in general with no real specifics. Same thing as mate.

Answer 9

Yes, it means Mate, Guy, Man, Homie, Buddy Ol' Pal.etc.. But I personally don't use it as in "Dude, look at that!" or some kind of sentence like that...... I use it as in "Look at that dude." as another word for man or guy, Like I say "dude" and "chick" instead of "boy/man" or "woman/girl."

Answer 10

Like you said, "it means buddy, pal." It is commonly used by guys, but girls sometimes use it, too. Usually, those living in California (or who are from California) use this particular word.

Answer 11

don't say Americans, it's more like a teenage thing, mate is not like that is it? Intelligent adults do not use the phrase dude