When referring to a girl we know, we might not want to use the traditional male-specific terms like “bro” or “dude.” This article will explore other words you can use to talk about a girl and which ones are best to use.
What Can I Call A Girl Instead Or “Bro” Or “Dude”?
There are plenty of words we can use to describe a girl in place of “bro” or “dude.” The best ones that we want to go over in this article are:
- Buddy
- Mate
- Sister
- Bud
- Sis
- Girl
- Girlfriend
- Dude or bro
The preferred version is “buddy” or “mate.” Both phrases work well when referring to friends, but they also work as general words that can refer to girls that you’re not that familiar with. Neither of them is intended to be insulting or gender-specific, which helps in many cases.
Buddy
“Buddy” works well to talk about girls. It can work for both friends and acquaintances alike. Most girls are happy to be called “buddy” (unless they’re romantically interested in you), so you can use it with whoever you want.
The only time you might not want to use “buddy” is if you are talking to a superior. For example, if a teacher or female boss is speaking to you, it’s best you leave words like “buddy” out. Then again, that applies to all the words on this list (they are too informal for most cases).
However, informally, you can use “buddy” to your heart’s content. It works for men and women alike too, so you don’t have to worry too much about the reception.
If someone doesn’t like being called “buddy,” they will tell you. However, these will mostly be rare cases, and you shouldn’t usually have to worry about that!
These examples will show you all you need to know about “buddy:”
- Hey, buddy. You’re looking a little glum today. Is there anything I can do?
- Wow, buddy! You are looking so good lately!
- Hey, buddy! I’ve missed seeing you around here!
Mate
“Mate” works well to refer to girls who you are comfortable with or ones you don’t know all that well. It’s up to you when you want to use it, but most people will use words like “mate” whenever it suits them (without worrying about who they reference).
You could speak to elderly people and call them “mate.” You could speak to the police and call them “mate” if you are comfortable enough in the situation. There are no reasons why it shouldn’t work to refer to people you don’t know.
Here are a few examples of how we can use it to refer to girls:
- Hey, mate! I haven’t seen you in lessons today
- That’s my mate, Jane! She’s one of my best friends.
- You’re a good mate, Sarah. Thank you.
Sister
“Sister” works well as a gender-specific word. It’s not popular to use with men, but it works really well when using it with women. However, you’ll want to make sure you’re close and familiar with the woman before using it; otherwise, they might not like it.
This is the first word in this article that’s a little more restrictive than the others. You have to make sure a girl will like to be called “sister” before trying to use it.
It’s not an appropriate word to use when talking to strangers or people you don’t know all that well. If you tried to use it, you would be taking a lot for granted, and you might end up causing a few problems with those people.
Here are some examples to help you understand it:
- Hey, sister! I hope you’ve been doing well.
- You’re looking good, sister! Have you done something new to your look?
- I love what you’ve done to your nails, sister!
Bud
“Bud” is a shortened form of “buddy.” We can use both interchangeably to refer to a girl we are close to. This is a general phrase, just like “buddy,” which helps us to use it even if we’re not all that familiar with a girl.
Sometimes, words like “bud” are default choices for many people. They’ll use it without even thinking, and they’ll use it with men, women, adults, and children alike. There is no discrimination when using words like this.
Check out these examples to see it in action:
- Hey, bud! I’ve missed you!
- What’s up, bud? You look a little low.
- I miss you, bud. We should hang out again soon!
Sis
“Sis” is a shortened form of “sister.” We can use either form to talk about a girl we like, and it would be useful in many cases. However, you should make sure you’re comfortable and familiar with the girl before using this.
At the end of the day, it’s up to the girl you know whether she likes certain words or not. Some men like “bro,” others like “dude,” others like “mate.” The same applies to women.
They can choose which words work best for them and which ones you should stick to using if you want to remain friends with them.
Here’s how it looks in practice:
- Hey, sis. I haven’t seen you around these parts for a while.
- Do you want to come over today, sis?
- How are you doing, sis? You seem quiet today.
Girl
“Girl” is a simple way to refer to a girl you know. While it might seem a bit bizarre to refer to their gender, it’s no different than using other terms like “man,” “bro,” or “dude.” In fact, it holds almost exactly the same weight to it as a friendly term.
While we’ve already mentioned that “bro” and “dude” are not gender-specific, it’s best to make sure you keep “girl” gender-specific. There are no men who would like to be called this (for the most part).
Check out how it works here:
- Hey, girl! I can’t believe I haven’t seen you since break!
- Are you okay, girl? I’ve missed you.
- What’s up, girl! It’s been a long time.
Girlfriend
You can use “girlfriend” to refer to a girl you know as well. Usually, you’ll want to do this when you are familiar with them and very close. It’s best not to risk a word like this when you aren’t all that familiar with a girl.
For example, if you are talking about a school friend, then go for it. However, if you’re talking to a teacher or a parent, maybe “girlfriend” isn’t the best choice. It’s a little bit too colloquial in both of those cases.
Here’s how it looks:
- Hey, girlfriend! Long time no see!
- What’s up, girlfriend? I wish you could have been sitting next to me last period!
- Dinner is on you, girlfriend! I can’t believe you won all that money!
Dude Or Bro
It might seem counterproductive to use the same words in the article subject to talk about alternatives but bear with us. We want to show you why it’s not a bad idea to call a girl “dude” or “bro.”
If you’re close with a girl, you can call her “dude” or “bro.” Sometimes, if that girl has a romantic interest in you, she might not like it. However, if you’re just good friends, there are no reasons why you can’t use it, and both of you enjoy it as a term of endearment.
“Dude” and “bro” are no longer gender-specific words. Times have changed a lot since their invention, so we don’t have to worry too much about whether they’re appropriate or not.
Here are some examples of how you might use it for a girl:
- I really like what you’ve done with your hair, bro!
- Hey, bro! It’s been a while! How have you been?
- Are you okay, bro? You look a little down over there!
Can I Call A Girl “Bro” Or “Dude”?
You might have picked up on some of the trends from the above alternatives, but we’ll reiterate our point here. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with referring to a girl as a “bro” or a “dude.”
Nowadays, “bro” and “dude” are more like emotions than they are descriptions. We do not use them to describe men. Instead, we use them to talk to our friends and people that we trust. Men and women alike can be called “bro” or “dude.”
There are no limits to who can or cannot be called “bro” or “dude.” The only thing you need to worry about is whether they’ll accept the term.
For example, if you’re really close with a girl, you might say:
- See you later, bro!
- Nice to see you again, dude!
Both of these are acceptable, even though you are talking to a girl. If she likes the words and you’re close friends, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.
However, if you do not know her all that well, you may be better off avoiding the word. After all, some women that you aren’t close with might find it insulting. You have to let them decide whether it’s appropriate or not.
You may also like: 8 Good Female Synonyms For “Buddy”