The term dude is an American English slang word generally used informally to address a male individual. The word was once used primarily by adults but has become a common slang term used in various age groups. The female equivalent, less often used, is "dudette". However the term dude has evolved to become a more unisex term to encompass all genders^[1], and was even true in the 50's during the word's older definitions.^[2]

"Dude" is also used alone in a sentence as an interjection denoting a feeling of surprise, happiness, disappointment, amazement or other emotions.^[3] The word might also be used practically anywhere in a sentence in order to convey such sentiments in conversation, as in 'Listen dude, we have to go'.

American-born word is still its first definition today, 'a man excessively concerned with his clothes, grooming and manners'. I thought that dude was an old word, but I thought wrong. I guess it's because the word sounds vaguely like duke, and all those titles of royalty are fairly ancient. But dude first appeared in print in 1878. The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang cites an 1877 reference in a letter--not published.

The tone and inflection of the word "dude" are used to convey the various meanings. For example, a short, clipped "dude!" may convey annoyance with someone, while a long, drawn-out "duuuude" conveys amazement.

Times of the dude

1898 - Some Dudes Can Fight, an early silent film in which a Bowery young man starts a fight with another gentleman.

1969 - Easy Rider, Peter Fonda's character defines 'dude' as "nice guy" and "regular sort of person".

1972 - "All the Young Dudes", a hit single performed by Mott the Hoople, written by David Bowie.

1973 - Dude, a musical by Galt MacDermot.

1978 - Big Wednesday, a film drama depicting the surfer life in the '60s and '70s.

1987 - "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" by Aerosmith tops the charts. The punk western film Dudes is released.

1994 - In the television show Friends, the male characters, Ross, Joey and Chandler, frequently refer to each other as "dude", as a term of endearment and to express shock/surprise.

1997 - Dude Ranch, an album from Blink-182

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2000 - Dude, Where's My Car?, features Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott, as two young men or "dudes" who lose their car.