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‘!
|
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. |
In Australian slang, we often use the word mate.
| Example:
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!
|
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!
|
NEW VOCABULARY:
|
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…
Play Audio Comment
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.
We gals just use mate as well. It can be used for both blokes and shielas
Dead set!
Thanks for the link mate!