Hello people looking to write Phil accurately in fics or perhaps even RPs. Here's how you can appropriately sprinkle in "mate" in his dialogue.
I'm on some real autism shit rn so have some Philza Dialogue Tips you didn't ask for. Tips from someone who's watched this chucklefuck for 6 years and is unbelievably deep in this bastard's walls (aka knows his speaking habits VERY well).
Because too many goddamn people throw it in the most random places to an excessive degree because "ha ha hee hee, he says it so often!!" WRONG. There's CONTEXT, there's a TIME AND PLACE FOR IT. It's really fucking distracting and takes the reader out of immersion when they're reading and "mate" is just slapped in the middle of a statement every 3 sentences. STOP THAT.
Here are some common instances where Phil will say "mate" with some dialogue examples:
When he's being teased/bullied/embarrassed/etc (yknow, banter):
"[insert Fit being out of pocket or Tubbo being Tubbo here]" "MATE."
"Ough, mate, we have to get you some Brazilian barbecue sometime."
When someone says something really nice to him (and he doesn't jump to refuse the compliment because he's an overly humble motherfucker) or gives him a thoughtful gift:
"Maaaaate-" (said like he'd put a 🥺 next to it via text)
When he's arguing/exasperated with someone:
"Mate. Do you think we can just show up with basic ass armor and swords and fucking win like that??"
Or doing that fuckass Phil thing where he can reassure anyone else on the planet but god forbid he reassure himself on anything
"Mate, you're gonna be fine, don't worry. You got this."
Short simple replies like the kind shit where if it were texting he'd say m8:
"Thanks mate" / "hi mate" / "bye mate" / "k mate" / etc.
YOUR PHIL SHOULD NOT BE MID-FUCKING MENTAL BREAKDOWN AND SAYING MATE.
HE SHOULD NOT BE SCARED SHITLESS BY THE HORRORS AND SAYING MATE.
WHEN SHIT HITS THE FAN HE LOCKS IN. THERE IS NO MATE, IT IS STRAIGHT UP INSTRUCTION AND INFORMATION FOR SURVIVAL, PERIOD. VERY VERY RARELY DOES HE THROW "MATE" INTO SERIOUS SITUATIONS.
I can think of VERY FEW nuanced hypothetical situations where he might say mate in a mental breakdown, times of stress, etc. And the ones I can think of are because they simultaneously fit under "mental breakdown" and "arguing with someone," for example.
AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD STOP MAKING HIM SAY "MATE" WHEN YOU'RE WRITING SMUT. FULL STOP.