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.

danhakimi,
danhakimi avatar

wait, is "buddy" gendered?

I like to mix it up. but language is context dependent. "buddy" is a go-to of mine, and feels entirely gender neutral.

"my people" is good for plural.

"friend" is good as long as you have the right rhythm with it. Like, you know, in the second person, like "hello, friend."

"bro" obviously doesn't work, but I have casually referred to trans friends as "broham" and they didn't seem to mind. I don't do it often, but sometimes mixing in a good bro pun is more fun that way... go a little over the top, call somebody brobrahk brobrahma, nobody's going to be thinking that you're implying gender, it's an equally ridiculous term to call anybody by. Similarly, although context dependent, there are implicitly feminine words you can use, although some of them can be degrading in the wrong context. "Gurl," "bitch," and "slut" can work, as long as it's ridiculous enough in context not to be taken seriously. I'm a guy, I've had friends call me these. "Gurl" might not be the best for a nonbinary friend or a trans man friend, so be careful with it.

I don't know, I only have a few nonbinary friends, I guess, and I mostly refer to most of them by their names.

lickmygiggle,

I typically go with something like, “howdy, folks”.

TypicalHog,

Guys is probably the most neutral of the ones you mentioned.

onlooker,
@onlooker@lemmy.ml avatar

Fellow bipedal meat-things.

GTG3000,

“What’s up everypony?”

Agent641,

“What is up, my mammals?”

SturgiesYrFase,
@SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml avatar

Are assuming my genus?

BreadOven,

Cheese bags.

NENathaniel,
@NENathaniel@lemmy.ca avatar

Peeps

StupidBrotherInLaw,

Whenever there’s any question, I usually open with “sup, dogs” in my most serious voice, then continue to deadpan refer to everyone as dog, such as “and you, dog, I need to check the grist mill, thank you dog”. Fifteen years in and no complaints so far.

uhmbah,

'round here “guys” has become gender neutral. But “folks” is my go-to.

Tlaloc_Temporal,

Guy is actually from the proper name Guy, variant of Guido. It was originally used as a mild insult, refering to Guy Fawkes, infamous terrorist.

I think “guys” is perfectly gender neutral, in the same way “you idiots” is.

uhmbah,

Haha love it.

Pan_Ziemniak,

Same. And i will die on the hill that dude is gender neutral. Dudette sounds like a mini dude, and no way am i calling into question any dudes “dudeness” on account of their gender.

Glytch,

I subscribe to the “Goodburger” school of thought on the subject: I’m a dude, you’re a dude, he’s a dude, she’s a dude, we’re all dudes.

Doubleohdonut,

What about El Duderino, if you’re not into the whole brevity thing? 😁

uhmbah,

My 8 yr old grand daughter calls everyone “bro”. Including her mom!

Pan_Ziemniak,

Thats my point! My cis woman SO? dude. My trans woman friend? dude. Shes no longer with us, but my very very princess like girl dog? fucking dude.

I feel like i def call my SO, bro, too.

dillydogg,

Everyone, you all, y’all

craig9,

My go-to is folks, but 1000 others have mentioned that already. So I will throw in “people”.

“Hey people, how’s it going?”

That works for me

quinkin,

Gang

Regnissik,

I mean buddy is already gender neutral.

Underwaterbob,

So is “guys” as far as I’m concerned.

RizzRustbolt,

“Dude” is the definitive gender neutral term.

Alice,

Once a trans woman told me that “buddy” is gendered, but I didn’t— still don’t— understand that. But recently a customer called me buddy, then when he heard my voice he apologized and called me ma’am. So I don’t know anymore.

Davidvanb,

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