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Names used for talking to people you don't know

madam

used for talking politely to a woman whose name you do not know. This word is used especially by people serving customers in a store or restaurant

miss

noun

used for talking politely to a girl or young woman whose name you do not know

ma’am

noun

used for talking politely to a woman whose name you do not know

mister

noun

used for talking to a man whose name you do not know. This word sometimes shows that you are angry with the man

sonny

noun

used for talking to a boy or young man who you do not know very well, often in a threatening way

buster

noun

an impolite word used when talking to a man whose name you do not know, especially someone you are annoyed with

dude

noun

used for talking in a friendly or threatening way to a man you do not know

buddy

noun

used for talking to a man whose name you do not know

Mac

noun

used in some parts of the U.S. and in Scotland for talking to a man whose name you do not know. It is sometimes considered impolite

dear

noun

used for talking in a friendly way to someone whose name you do not know

vocal fry

a speech habit in which a speaker lowers their voice at the end of a sentence

BuzzWord Article

Word of the Day Word of the Day

glottal stop

a sound made by stopping air as it passes through your throat. In some varieties of spoken...

Open Dictionary

conflict mineral

a mineral which is mined in a place where there is armed conflict, and sold to help pay for weapons

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