Say it aloud: "Pause." "Mate" is a fantastic gender-neutral phrase. However, context is critical. A mate can be a gender-neutral phrase of love or affection, informal slang, or it can refer to one's sexual partner, especially when addressing non-human biological life-long and/or reproducing pair-bonds. In science fiction and fantasy, a mate is someone who shares your feelings toward another creature. In literature, folklore, and mythology, a mate is usually but not always your sexual partner. In computer technology, the term "mate" refers to the person who uses programs with you. This could be a spouse, friend, coworker, child, teacher, counselor, etc. A mate is also called a companion, but that term may have other meanings as well. A good friend is needed by everyone, while a great companion makes people smile even when they are alone. Finally, a mate is called a lover, but only if you are a woman. For men, this word has no real meaning; it's either your wife or your girlfriend. If you have both a wife and a girlfriend, you have two mates! Related words include husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, son, daughter, mother, father, sibling, spouse, civil partner, same-sex partner, opposite-sex partner.