The kids that watch annoying American programs on TV do.... and Bowie was trying to attract the American music market at that time
Not many people say "mate" these days. It's something that was more common in larger cities and the areas around London.
Almost nobody older than 14 calls someone a "dude" unless it's within their own small immediate social group of friends. If they do use the word outside of that limited context then it's a deliberate affectation to make themselves seem "cool". But then it really just makes the person sound like an idiot.
No, never. Unless it is a piss take. Nobody here would say it deadly serious. We don't call petrol- gas, chips- fries, crisps- potato chips, pop- soda, the car windscreen- a wind shield, the toilet- the john, the road- the highway, the path- the side walk, a nappy- a dyper, or plaster board- sheet rock! I don't know why people here are sayin we don't use the word 'mate, very often because that is nonsense. Most blokes will used the word 'mate' in everyday conversation. Especially if you are talkin to somebody you don't really know what you are askin a question. It is just polite to add the word mate on the end of the question. Example "have you got the time please mate?" It just adds friendliness to the question or if it is a woman you would add the word 'love' to the end of your question.
Britain's use of the word Dude, like most Americans is based entirely on watching television.
There is a direct correlation between pot usage and its attendant viewing & listening patterns and use of the word dude.
No - never really heard anyone other than my 13 year old nephew say it - it seems to be a "cool" word in that age group at the moment particularly amongst boys but grown ups would never say it.
A few kids do, if they're trying to sound 'cool' and American. It doesn't work. They just sound very silly.
And some people say 'mate' but not that many.
We might say, "No way." but we don't feel the need to add 'dude'.
We don't say 'Totally awesome' at all - awesome is the most inaccurately and overused adjective on the planet.
And again, we don't really say 'What's up?' either.
If we're addressing someone, we usually use their name.
The term "Dude" was originally an insult, meaning someone who couldn't ride a horse
Middle aged wannabe bikers might say "Dude" but normal people never, ever use the word.
I usually say mate and where I live in London, people say mate a lot.
I have never heard it used in Northern Ireland
