what is the female equivalent of "man"

[Daniel Cox]

fred rosenberger wrote:Even that got some people upset...

I guess the search for anything that is universally acceptable is futile.   Even addressing someone by their real name is not universally acceptable as some may prefer a nickname or "street" name or "stage" name. You'd have to be really brave to refer to the wrestler Hulk Hogan by his real name Terry. I heard that the real name of the British actor Michael Caine is Maurice Joseph Micklewhite. Michael Caine is his "stage" name. Last month, he changed his name to his "stage" name in order to make security checks at airports less complicated.

I guess how you address someone is down to the social circle you are in and what is acceptable in that social circle. In some social circles, "shorty" is an acceptable way to address a female. I find that derogatory though.

[Winston Gutkowski]

Daniel Cox wrote:I heard that the real name of the British actor Michael Caine is Maurice Joseph Micklewhite.

And wasn't John Wayne's 'Marion'? Google that, and see how many images of blokes you get...

Winston

[Randall Twede]

I cant read all this so ill just say girl or maybe girlfriend

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

fred rosenberger wrote:instead of "how are you guys doing", why not "how y'all doin'?"

I do say ya'll if I'm working with people outside NY in the US. But iN NY, people don't say y'all so it feels weird.

[Ahmed Bin S]

Within the working class guys will often call women "babes" e.g. "You alright there, babes?". There is no sexual connotation involved. I still don't use it, but I do use "man" quite a lot, even with women!

[Julian West]

When I lived in SoCal, "Dude" was used by/towards both genders.

How about:

"Champ"

"Sport"

"Smokey"

"Stumpy"

"Doofus" (really familiar form there)

or

"Friend"

(try not to typo that last one by missing an 'r'

it happens...

"Man, why you call me a "fiend"!?)