English Experts

[felipeh6]

Please, what are the other formal and informal words that we can use to say someone is a friend? I mean, words like dude, buddy, ...

[pondedaniel]

Hi there!

• buddy
• dude
• peer
• dawg (it souds like dough or something like that)
• dog
• fellow
• pal
• homie
• mate

Take care

Daniel

[Xto]

Ok, entendido, mas qual a diferença de uso entre elas? O grau de afinidade? Obrigado!
Sou novo aqui no fórum.
o/"

[Xto]

A insônia me fez fazer uma pesquisa noturna, consegui distinguir algumas coisas em relação ao assunto:

BUDDY - Colegas de trabalho.

DUDE - Algo parecido com "cara" aqui no Brasil. Ex - Aquele cara já passou por aqui duas vezes.
Ou também um fashionista. Ex - Muito legal a roupa daquele cara.

PAL - Algo como "melhores amigos" por afinidade.
Ou advertência/repulsa - Dont touch me, pal.

FELLOW - Alguém com que se tenha relacão afetiva, alguém com a mesma posição ou atividade em um mesmo contexto, membros de grupos de aprendizado, colegas de classe, parte de um conselho ou órgão governamental.

MATE - Denominação usada para indicar parceiros sexuais (indiferente do sexo), animais do mesmo bando, pares de coisas, companheiros de coisas específicas.

Se algo estiver errado, ou até mesmo se isso não for tão relevante assim, fiquem à vontade em me corrigir.
Abraço!
;D

[Thomas]

I hope this helps. This is how I interpret the meanings.


buddy = pal = close friend
Hey, buddy! How are things?
We have been buddies since high school.
(We have palled around together since high school.)

dude = young man
(This does not mean friend. Used mostly by young people. Close in meaning to "cara" in Portuguese.)
Good morning, dude.
Who is that dude?

peer = equal, colleague (Very formal.)
(This does not mean friend. )
Among his peers, he is a highly respected attorney.
As a nuclear scientist, he has no peer.

dawg = friend
(Used instead of the person's name. Used mostly by young people.)
How was dinner last night, dawg?
He's an old dawg of mine. = Wrong!

dog = terrible person, unfaithful man, etc.
(This does not mean friend. Used mostly by young people.)
Her boyfriend was a real dog. He was always cheating on her.

fellow = person ("Fella" is informal form.)
(This does not mean friend. Often used in the plural.)
Hello, fellows!

homie = someone from your neighborhood (homeboy, homegirl), Commonly used among Hispanic gang members. Sometimes used to mean Hispanic.
How is it hanging, homie? How are you today?
I saw a homie on the corner.

mate
(This does not mean friend in the USA, merely someone's sexual partner. It's commonly used in the UK, Australia, etc. for friend. A "classmate" is a companion in a class, at school, etc. That is widely used in the USA, but not just "mate".)

sidekick = constant companion
(Used to describe a friend, not in place of the friend's name.)
Who is your sidekick?
Hello, sidekick. = Wrong!

[Thomas]

(1) Let me clarify that "mate" is often used formally in the USA. It almost always refers to a long standing relationship (such as husband and wife), and is often used to describe the relationship between animals who had had offspring together. Again, in the UK and some other countries, it is a friend.

The lion's name is Jefferson. The lioness in the corner is his mate, Lucinda.

(2) chum = friend, companion
(This is an old word, and I rarely hear or read it today. "To chum around" = to spend time together in a friendly way. "To be chummy with" = to be friends with.)
Who is your chum?
May I buy your lunch, chum?
We chummed around together in college.
The man is a dog. Don't get too chummy with him. He can't be trusted.

[Xto]

Thats it! Thank you Thomas!
;D