What is a gender neutral replacement for man, guys, buddy, etc?
What is a gender neutral replacement for man, guys, buddy, etc?
So I've realized that in conversations I'll use traditional terms for men as general terms for all genders, both singularly and for groups. I always mean it well, but I've been thinking that it's not as inclusive to women/trans people.
For example I would say:
"What's up guys?" "How's it going man?" "Good job, my dude!” etc.
Replacing these terms with person, people, etc sounds awkward. Y'all works but sounds very southern US (nowhere near where I am located) so it sounds out of place.
So what are some better options?
Edit: thanks for all the answers peoples, I appreciate the honest ones and some of the funny ones.
The simplest approach is to just drop the usage of guys, man, etc. Folks for groups and mate for singular appeal to me when I do want to add one in between friends.
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Dude its OK for me because you Know, the dude.
Pacifist as fuck, its a good name then. I don't feel it like man, etc. Even the majority when using it don't think about lebowski.
If i name someone dude, there is more than "man" behind. But I'm maybe wrong ?
Edit : oh sorry realized plurials.
People fine for me, its just an habit to change really. Or hey guys and girls or better, hey girls and guys 😂
But as non English speaker I could use dude for the group, and a my lady for her, if there is an fellow trans with me. Not others ofc. Will check thé answers for real lol
Dude isn't quite there yet. The phrase "I fuck dudes" has only one interpretation still.
There are still lots of reasonable women who don't want to be called dude as it is still associated with masculine people.
Mistake ive edited. Bad reading at first. I've respond imgining me self speaking to a dude of me. Not at a group. Individually, no way I call a miss "dude".