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.
y’all
And, for larger groups, all y’all.
I use y’all a lot and im near Chicago
I’ve started using it and I’m Canadian.
I’ve started using it and I’m north of Canada … In Detroit
Did you know that you can be north of Canada … in California?
https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-75f887668c7f322a0dd1a226e128cea3
TIL
What in the world. They need to fix that on the next patch.
At a more northern latitude than part of Canada. Detroit is directly north of part of Canada
yinz
For those not in the US south and afraid of being judged, “all” on its own is an option.
“Hi all” is unlikely to raise any eyebrows
yall sounds super trashy.
Y’all doesn’t get enough love. It is gender neutral and extremely versatile.
I agree. It’s the plural of “you” that should be the official standard, since it disambiguates “you.” It can even be broadened to include larger groups via “all y’all,” as in, not just y’all in talking to, but all y’all in the house.
It can replace “guys”, but not “man,” though.
The plural of you is yous or ye. In Ireland at least.
Vosotros agrees.
Ustedes if you’re less formal or you live outside Spain 😁
if you’re less formal
What a fun way to phrase that. You’re not wrong but it’s making me giggle.
Or in German: euch
I’m under the impression that you pronounce it the same way this cat looks.
You know… that’s about right.
😂😂😂😂😂
I still wonder why English (a Germanic language) doesn’t have its own pronoun for the plural 2nd person like German (euch) or Dutch (jullie), I think it kinda helps with distinction between talking to one person and talking to multiple people.
The problem is… what pronoun should we choose? I think “yinz” would sound kinda cool, but nobody outside of a very specific spot in the US actually uses it (other than myself I guess).
It sounds cringeworthy if you’re not American though. The standard way of saying it is “you lot” and other dialects, like mine, have “yous”.
Here where I’m from in the US, you occasionally hear a “y’alls” and now I’m going to start using it as a cultural gap between your dialect and mine.
I can’t do it, I don’t want to sound like I’m from the South.
If everyone starts using it, it won’t sound southern any more. C’mon, you know you want to.
Take it from them!
It’s become the go-to in my company
Do you work with me? I’m in the US south and my EU colleagues love “y’all” and have started using it (ironically or not :) pretty often.
Warms my heart.
I have no hint of a Southern accent, but when I moved here “y’all” became almost an instant part of my vocabulary.
A LOT of my company is remote, but we are headquartered in Providence Rhode Island.
you’uns
Or if you’re near Pittsburgh, “yinz” is the proper spelling/pronunciation.
Youse if you’re a Geordie.
further down under you may hear “hey, yous lot…”
Scott the Woz on Lemmy? :o
“Hey y’all, Scott here.”
“Foolish mortals” is my go-to gender neutral form of address
Comrade.
☭
Buddy is masculine?
Could be. Depends on a bunch of factors. But as a trans person I’ve never encountered someone who’s trans and feels that it’s masculine.
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Guys is 100% gender neutral.
Also, can’t go wrong with the old standby “Stay Fresh, Cheesebags!”
The simplest approach is to accept language is inherently gendered, and at a certain point it is exhausting to either take offense to everything or walk on eggshells.
I’m southern, so I use y’all almost exclusively lol
All the alternatives make me cringe.
If someone is insulted that you use the term “guys” for a group, they’re not worth being friends with. That’s a lot of exhausting mental energy to deal with. Ignore 'em and move on.
Gang
I’ve started using “hello chums”
Folks or Everyone tend to be my go to.
Peeps
Note: You will sound like a tool if you say this.
I’m just going out on a limb to remind people it’s totally ok to say sup man to legit anyone. People that care about that stuff are people you can choose to change it for if you want to be around that type of person.
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
Cunts
We can close this thread now. The question has been answered.
Ah, finally! A worthy alternative.
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Fucks
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Shits
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Turds
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Maggots
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Threadkiller
Oi! You’re a good cunt!
instance name checks out
I’d accept bloody beautiful bastards as well.
Found the Australian
In New Zealand of all places!
Kiwis call each other cunts almost as much as aussies. We insult each other just as much, but we have better taste.
And we taste better
They wish they could be our western island.
