Hi mate

I had a barrister I went to advice from call me "mate" on our first meeting. I walked... At £450 an hour I don't expect "mate" and if he pre judges clients so badly God knows what he does with judges and juries.
 
The only I ever use it is "a mate of mine". Hey bud/buddy to a friendly colleague whom walks up to my desk with a question "hey bud how can I help".
 
Mate is used for strangers or perhaps people at work you don't really know and wouldn't want too outside of work, I would never call a friend mate. Mate is what I say if I'm in someone's way in public, "sorry mate"
 
I don't particularly find it offensive or friendly but it does depend on context and intonation. I don't really understand fathers that refer to their offspring that way.

I tend to say thank you and leave it at that. I do catch myself saying "mate" sometimes but that's by virtue of being a dirty immigrant that's been here a couple of decades.

I think most of the time people use it to be friendly though but I tend to assume positive intent in people.
 
I still stick to "me old cobber".

Might be old fashioned now, but it works for me.
 
dave28 said:
None of the locals where i live say " Hi mate "

We all say " u oright "

I even worked with some Americans and they did not have a clue what we were saying at first but after a while they would copy us.
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u oright mate is the epitome however.

I use it all the time. I have always viewed it as a polite way to greet someone or to say thank you.

"Morning mate"

"Cheers mate"

you can also replace mate with "buddy" if you're feeling a little southern but I am not a fan really.

I do agree it does need a bit of context though to the situation you are in. If I am in a super market I might speak like that but at a dinner for example I would try and be a little more formal unless I was with really close friends.
 
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Like many British words and phrases it can be used many ways from an insult, through casual greeting and banter to respect.



Also Diddums took our jurbs :(

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'Duck' or 'Duckeh' is the phrase round here. I still find it quaint and amusing....but I don't think I could get away with it with my posh southern accent :(
 
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