Dude

[Tinkerbell]

“This wasn’t even the Thorne family’s primary residence,” Jenna said, like she was quoting from a guide¬book. “They had a mansion in London, a castle in the north of Scotland, and a hunting lodge in Yorkshire. Unfortunately, they lost most of their wealth after World War II, and in 1951, they were forced to sell all of their properties except for the Abbey. It still belongs to the Thorne family.”
“Dude. How do you know all of this?”


dude?? best friend?

 

[emsr2d2]

“This wasn’t even the Thorne family’s primary residence,” Jenna said, like she was quoting from a guide¬book. “They had a mansion in London, a castle in the north of Scotland, and a hunting lodge in Yorkshire. Unfortunately, they lost most of their wealth after World War II, and in 1951, they were forced to sell all of their properties except for the Abbey. It still belongs to the Thorne family.”
“Dude. How do you know all of this?”


dude?? best friend?

Someone (was it you?) posted the same sort of question earlier today! Someone replied saying that it means "men".

It's an informal term which some people use to refer to a man/men.

Those dudes over there have great clothes.
What are you doing, dude?!

There was a truly dreadful American film called "Hey, Dude, Where's My Car?"

It could be replaced by "mate" in BrE, although that can be used to refer to both women and men sometimes.

I have heard the word "dude" feminised to "dudette" a couple of times, but I don't think it's very common.

 

[Tinkerbell]

Yes, it was me. But I thought it might be a different meaning here. Dictionary says: man, friend, buddy, snob.

 

[philadelphia]

I have heard the word "dude" feminised to "dudette" a couple of times, but I don't think it's very common.

"Dudette" looks like a French stuff to me, I mean it may be derived from French.

Yes, Tinkerbell, "dude" refers to a man, fellow, buddy, etc, while "dudes" would seem to be neutral, either gender a male or a female.

 

[emsr2d2]

Yes, it was me. But I thought it might be a different meaning here. Dictionary says: man, friend, buddy, snob.

All of those make sense apart from "snob"! I'm very surprised to see that as a definition.

 

[philadelphia]

Adding an "ette" to a word seems to be common in English. Though it may have had a French connection once, I doubt if it still does. Consider kitchenette (small kitchen), roomette (small room), bachelorette (unmarried woman), featurette (a small - though big - feature), and novelette (a short novel). Dudette would seem to mean a female dude or a small dude.

It is quite common here too, and adding this implies the same meaning you have got in the US.