Q: I always hear Australian people saying ‘G’day mate!‘ What does it mean?
A: G’day, means ‘hello‘ (short for ‘good day‘) and mate means ‘friend‘!
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In Australian slang, we often use the word mate.
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Listen to the recording below. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “Me and me mates are going away this weekend.” = “My friends and I are going away this weekend.” Notice that the speaker says ‘me mates‘, not ‘my mates’. This is common Australian slang! |
Listen to yourself saying ‘G’day mate’ using the recorder below. You will need a microphone! Watch your pronunciation!
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1. Click on ‘OPEN VOICE RECORDER’ below, to practice.  |
2. Record yourself in the comments! I will listen to your pronunciation and give you feedback!
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NEW VOCABULARY:
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Question: Do you know what girls often use instead of the word ‘mate’?
Put your answer in the comments!
…no I don’t know what girls use instead the word “mate”…please tell me…
[riffly_audio]6A9C308EF00611DDAB5B9AE82AB2E02B[/riffly_audio]
Hi Roberta
The word is “love”.
Example:
If I go to a restuarant and the waitress is older than me, she may say:
“Hello love. What can I do for you today?”
Sometimes my students get confused by this. They ask me if the waitress loves them!
But if you use the word this way it does not mean “I love you”. It is just a friendly way to talk to someone.
USAGE: Usually only said by the older person to the younger person of the OPPOSITE sex. (A guy would never use ‘love’ for a guy, but they do use it to girls).
It is used in the sentence instead of the person’s name.
EXAMPLES:
Hello love = Hello John
What are you doing love? = What are you doing John?
MY SUGGESTION: Don’t try to use this unless you have experience hearing someone use it naturally. It can become confusing!
Ithink the word is comfusing to the same age of oposite sex.
But not an old person talking to younger person.
I don t know whitch word for Girls instard of mate
please help .
Hi Robert
You can find the answer here: http://www.askjohnenglish.com/vocabulary-all/gday-mate#comment-4550
we usaully use hello guys or hi dude…to wish someone. this sentence make proper sense plz someone help me out
Here is some help for you Divya. You could say:
“We usually use hello guys or hi dude to GREET someone”
Good job!
i think i would be trubel if i use this word to deal with anybody infront my man
Maybe! he he!
HI JOHN’
I USAULLY CALL BY THIER NAMES, “LIKE HELLO JOHN”
That is a good way to talk to people.
It is always good to talk to people using their names. It is both polite and assertive.
[...] “die” , “mate” pronounce as “mite”, check out the pronunciation here to be [...]
Thanks for the link mate!
We gals just use mate as well. It can be used for both blokes and shielas
Dead set!
Hello John.
I want to know the means of word “qut”.Is it means good and where can use shuch words.Thanks.
Hi Naria
There is no word ‘qut’ in English. Have you spelt it correctly? Please check and tell me again.
i often hear women saying the word love instead of mate.
Hi Agnes
Yes – that is right. Women will often say ‘love’ instead of ‘mate’. It doesn’t mean they really love you – they are just being friendly and polite!
I have no problem about old people saying love to young people
Same age g’ day mate its oky
Hi Robert
Yes that is right. It is also okay to say ‘g’day mate’ to older people.
Old people love is no problem to young people .
But same age g’day mate is good
Old people saying love to young people its good .
But same age g’ day mate its oky
thankyou
hello give me address email please
Hi Mansureh
The best place to contact me is here: http://www.askjohnenglish.com/forum
i don’t know the word used instead of G’day mate but i learned from the above comments that it is the word love.
Hi Zainub – ‘love’ is used instead of the word ‘mate’ or ‘friend’
Instead of ‘G’day’ you can say ‘hello’ or ‘hi’
Or
‘G’day mate’ = ‘Hi friend’
I didn’t understand the word G’ day mate until some one explain this talking to me But no problem it’s an Australian slang , To same age it’s comfusing a lot.
But Old people it’s a polite or friendly word; I under stand this way;
Thankyou
Robert
I’m gad it is helpful Robert!
Yes this is only used in Australia. This lesson is really to have a bit of fun with language and also to learn a friendly greeting to use in Australia!
John