#19.05.19

A guide by Wy

G'day there, mates. How's everyone going? Good? Ripper*.

I'm here to tell you that 'mate' has many different meanings in Australia depending on the context and emphasis.

It can be friendly, condescending, consoling, sarcastic, angry, and heaps of other things too. It's a word that most people use without knowing... and some don't use it at all.

When I first meet someone, if I don't remember their name, I generally call them mate. This happened the first few times I talked with Canada.

Canada: Hello, I'm Canada.

Wy: Nice to meet ya. I'm Wy.

We had a lovely conversation, but for the life of me, I couldn't remember his name. So when I had to go, I said...

Canada: It was lovely talking with you, Wy.

Wy: You too, mate. Bye!

See? That way I wasn't rude and we parted amicably.

I'll let you in on a secret, sometimes I forget my friends' names! It's good to use 'mate' then too. It's also good if you can't be bothered to say their long-arse name.

Australia: /probably saying something important/

Wy: Oi, mate. Where's the dunny**?

Australia: Just hang a left at the end of the end of the hall and it's the third door on the right.

Wy: Cheers, mate.

Australia: Nah wackas.

'Mate' is also used quite often for consoling, and just letting someone know that you're there... just like whenever I have to comfort Sealand after he talks to England.

Wy: It's alright, mate. You, me, we'll all be real countries someday.

Then there's when you're talking about your friends.

Germany: Why, Wy?

Wy: Me mates and I thought it was a good idea...

However, a lot of the time it's not used in a nice way.

For example, when someone told me I was a waste of space, Australia stood up to them.

Australia (in a normal voice and demon eyes): Haha, good one, mate. Here's another idea. How about you rightly f*ck off?

Mate can be used dismissively

USA: But it'll work this time!

Australia: Whatever you say, mate.

It means "pull your head in before I or someone else does it for you"

Random citizen: *insults New Zealand with Australia in earshot*

Wy: Mate, come on.

Hutt River: Mate.

Or it can be used as a warning. (In this instance it means "RUN!")

Sealand: ... and that's why my art is better than yours.

Wy: ...

Hutt River: Mate.

Just remember, mate isn't a mere word. It's an art; it's a way of life.

Good luck, mate!

* awesome/wicked/cool

has to be you

always you

fuck you