Over here in the UK among us Scots and Englishmen we tend to use the word "mate" a lot. Not in the animal meaning of another animal you mate with but it just means "friend". So if i was to say "alright mate?" i'd be meaning it in a friendly way without animal/furry meanings. I mentioned this to an American over FA and he thought it was the animal meaning i was referring to and i actually had to explain to him before he starting having ideas about me. So if i ever use the word "mate" in a conversation then it's bound to be the friendly meaning and not the animal meaning.

-Foxtail