Mate is informal British English for “friend”: my mate Tom, we've been mates since school. As a form of address, it's like “buddy”: Thanks, mate! People say it to strangers too, a shop assistant, a taxi driver, someone in a queue; it's just a friendly tone. In neutral writing, use friend.
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my mate; a mate of mine; mates; Thanks, mate!
- A mate of mine repairs old radios in his spare time.
- Thanks, mate, that shortcut saved us a long walk.
- We have been mates since our first year at college.
What changed
First versionA mate of me lent us the ladder.
RevisionA mate of mine lent us the ladder.
“One of my friends” in short form is a mate of mine. After of you need the possessive mine, not me, just like a friend of mine. Of me has a different meaning: a photo of me is a photo showing me.
Classmate, flatmate and teammate mean someone you study, live or play with, and they don't promise friendship. Buddy is the American equivalent. Pal also means friend, but Listen, pal often sounds threatening.
Your turn
Someone I know can help: a mate of ___.
Show the answer
mine — After a mate of you need mine: a mate of mine means one of my friends. Me is an object pronoun and doesn't show belonging.
Tell how a friend helped you, in informal British style. Use a mate of mine.
A mate of mine helped me carry the keyboard to the rehearsal room.
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