Posted: Apr 03, 2018 2:10 pm
I know you were referring to the word. Here we would just say 'excuse me' (or 'sorry' 
), although often people say 'mate' to a man and 'love' to a woman. Despite the reputation we used to have of being 'proper' and stiff, our language is far more informal than other places. For example in France, you'd call someone you didn't know 'Madame', 'Monsieur' or 'Mademoiselle'. I've heard people in the states say 'sir' or 'ma'am'. I've only been called 'ma'am' once in my life - by an American who came into the shop where I was working. We don't address each other like that here unless we're a member of the police force talking to a member of the public, then it's 'sir' or 'madam'.
), although often people say 'mate' to a man and 'love' to a woman. Despite the reputation we used to have of being 'proper' and stiff, our language is far more informal than other places. For example in France, you'd call someone you didn't know 'Madame', 'Monsieur' or 'Mademoiselle'. I've heard people in the states say 'sir' or 'ma'am'. I've only been called 'ma'am' once in my life - by an American who came into the shop where I was working. We don't address each other like that here unless we're a member of the police force talking to a member of the public, then it's 'sir' or 'madam'.