A
male
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:Why is it common to address another man as mate? I've looked in the dictionary and it gives two conflicting views. The sexual partner of an animal. A marriage partner. A friend of the same sex usually male.What is the correct way to address your contemporary? Reply to this Question
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male
reader, anonymous, writes (28 December 2008): Dear Diovan Lestat
Thanks for your answers. The shipmate theory is good as I believe the term in male/male context originated from Austalia.
Myself I just don't like it. I've been mugged by someone who said hand over your money mate with a knife to my throat.
Also I have been interviewed about that crime and addressed as mate from a policeman.
I think i'm going to insist on be addressed as Mr by all but my closest friends.
Thanks anon male
A
reader, anonymous, writes (28 December 2008): Re-reading your question again.. please be aware that in the English language, words can have more than one meaning. Mate can be a sexual term, towards people of the opposite sex, and it can also be a term for two friends. That's the English language, it develops and changes over time. If you want to study how the word evolved, then look for etymology of words on a website that deal with the study of words. I suggested, the use of the term "mates" amongst friends, might have come from using the word on ships when men were far away from home and female company. I'm guessing, because I don't really know. To find out the root of the word, you'll need to do some investigation of your own.
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (28 December 2008): Your question is confusing.. you use very educated words, and I'm not sure if I understand your meaning but I'll try to give it a go.
Mate: A friend, woman or man, somebody who you don't have a sexual relationship with.
Mate: A term for your partner when your in a heterosexual relationship. Mate means that you have sex, and might be able to have children.
Mate: A person who works on a boat or ship alongside you.
I wouldn't use the term mate for two people who are in a homosexual relationship. Partner, lover, boyfriend/girlfriend, or even "significant other" seems to be more common and is more descriptive about the nature of your relationship.
Hope this helps, but if it dosen't please update your post and explain what you mean so we can answer your questions better.
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A
male
reader, anonymous, writes (28 December 2008): First name if you know it.
Mr if you don't know the person very well.
This is the correct way.
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