maat
B1Informal (when meaning friend); Formal (when meaning ship's officer or breeding partner).
Definition
Meaning
A friend, companion, or fellow member of a group.
Can refer to a partner in marriage, a breeding partner in animals, or an officer on a merchant ship. Also used colloquially as a term of address, especially in UK and Australia.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The informal sense is heavily regional. In the UK/Australia/NZ, it's a ubiquitous, warm term for a friend. In the US, it's less common and can sound foreign or deliberately adopting a British/Australian tone.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'mate' is a very common, casual word for friend and a common form of address (e.g., 'Alright, mate?'). In American English, 'mate' is rarely used for friend; 'buddy', 'pal', or 'dude' are preferred. The US uses 'mate' primarily for breeding partners (animals) or in specific terms like 'roommate'.
Connotations
UK: Friendly, casual, egalitarian, sometimes masculine. US: When used for a person, often connotes an attempt to sound British/Australian or a specific reference to those cultures.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in informal UK/Australian English. Low frequency in general American English, except in compound nouns (e.g., 'classmate', 'teammate').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be + mates with + PERSONgo out with + mateshave + a mate + whoVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “mate for life”
- “on the mate (cards)”
- “checkmate (chess)”
- “go mates with someone (archaic)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare in formal business. Informally, 'I'll get my mate in accounts to look at it' (UK).
Academic
Used in biology ('mating habits'), zoology, and maritime studies ('first mate').
Everyday
Very high frequency in UK/Aus/NZ: 'Going to the pub with my mates.'
Technical
Maritime: 'chief mate'; Chess: 'checkmate'; Biology: 'mate selection'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The pandas failed to mate in captivity.
- The mechanic mated the two components perfectly.
American English
- The zoo hopes the endangered birds will mate this season.
- The software update must mate with the existing hardware.
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- He's my mate rate, I'll do it cheaper for you.
- (Rare as pure adjective)
American English
- The mate connector is on the left. (Technical)
- (Rare in everyday use)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Tom is my best mate.
- I play football with my mates.
- We've been mates since primary school.
- He's having a drink with a few mates from work.
- Despite being colleagues, we never really became close mates.
- The sailor was promoted to first mate.
- Their attempt to mate the two software systems encountered unexpected compatibility issues.
- He addressed the stranger with a casual 'Alright, mate?' despite never having met him before.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'mate' as someone you share your 'fate' or a 'plate' with – a close companion.
Conceptual Metaphor
FRIENDSHIP IS PARTNERSHIP (soul mate, teammate). FRIENDSHIP IS PROXIMITY (roommate, classmate).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'мат' (swear words).
- The informal 'mate' is closer to 'друг' or 'приятель', not the more formal 'товарищ'.
- 'Checkmate' in chess is 'шах и мат', sharing etymology but different modern usage.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'mate' in formal US contexts expecting it to mean 'friend'.
- Overusing 'mate' when first speaking with British/Australian people; it's often used among established acquaintances.
- Confusing 'mate' (friend) with 'matt' (dull finish).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'mate' sound MOST natural in American English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, in modern UK/Australian usage, 'mate' can refer to friends of any gender, though historically it was more masculine.
It's too informal. Avoid using it to address the interviewer. Use 'Mr./Ms. [Surname]' or the title they prefer.
'Friend' is standard and universal. 'Mate' (in the friend sense) is informal, regional (UK/Aus/NZ), and can imply a slightly looser, more casual bond than a very close 'friend'.
It's a very common British expression meaning 'thank you, friend'. It can be used sincerely for a favour or automatically, like when someone holds a door open.