Do you want to learn how to say friend in French?
Whatever your age, friendship is one of the most important aspects of life. Thus, it should come as no surprise that this word is among the first thing to learn when studying languages.
Do you want to know the proper way to refer to your French friend? Let’s have a look at the French translation of the word “friend” and learn the different ways in which we might communicate with and refer to our friends.
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Friend In French
How to Say “Friend” in French
When speaking of a male friend in French, the term for “friend” is “ami,” while when speaking of a female friend, the word is “amie.”
To indicate that you are referring to more than one friend, you should use the plural form, amis (m) / amie (f). You use the term camarades when the gender of the friends you are referring to is not mentioned or when you are referring to a mixed group of friends (friends).
Different Words for Friend in French
Ami(e)
The French word amie means “friend” in English. As said previously, by simply adding a “e,” it becomes the feminine “amie.” By adding a “s,” it becomes the plural “ami” for male friends or “amies” for female friends. You can use it to refer to a very good friend.
It’s the best all-around term for “friend” in French because it’s appropriate for both formal and casual use.
But a friend can also be a lover, an amie.
As a basic rule of thumb for determining which one someone means:
- Friendship is implied when ami/amie is used with un or une.
- When used with a possessive pronoun, “ami” can mean “lover” or “boyfriend.”
- In the absence of a clear explanation or context to the contrary, the plural forms of ami and amie are always taken to refer to platonic companions.
Petit ami/Petite amie
The word petit(e) ami(e), which can be translated either as “boyfriend” or “girlfriend,” is another way ami(e) can be used to signify “romantic interest.”
You might be surprised to learn that this is not the standard French term for referring to a romantic companion. The terms “petit ami” and “petite amie” may imply a fleeting or temporary nature of the relationship between the two parties involved.
A parent might also use this term to refer to the person their high school-aged child is dating. Or perhaps a group of adults has recently met the boyfriend or girlfriend of one of their pals.
As time goes on and the two people become closer, they may start using titles like “ami(e),” “copain,” or “compagnon” or “compagne.”
Copain/copine
It’s common practice to use both “ami(e)” and “copain” or “copine,” since both words imply “friend” in their respective genders.
The plurals of “cop” and “copine” are formed by adding a “s” to each word. In contrast to “ami(e),” the closeness of a “copain” or “copine” friendship is more chill.
Pote
A male or female acquaintance is referred to as a pote in a really casual sense of the word. It is most commonly used to refer to a group of close friends when rendered in the plural form “potes.”
Poteau
The word “poteau” is a diminutive of the word “pote.” This means “friend” or “bud.” It’s a slang term for a close friend.
This word, unlike pote, never refers to females and is always followed by a masculine modifier.
However, language is ever-evolving, so perhaps it will also be used with female friends and modifiers in the future. But until further notice, you should only use it around male friends and in extremely casual settings.
Frère or Frérot
The French word frère is most commonly translated as “brother.” Meanwhile, the term frérot refers to a younger sibling in a warm, casual tone.
However, both of these terms can be used to refer to a close male buddy, just like the English word “brother” can. The French words frère and frérot can be translated roughly as “bro” and “bruv.”
People from the banlieue (the French equivalent of the ghetto) and those involved in street culture are more likely to use these terms than college students or members of other social groups. It would sound fake or like an attempt to be cool if an affluent white French person used frère or frérot in this context.
On the other hand, exactly like in English, the word “brother” (frère) or “sister” (soeur) is used to describe a profound sense of solidarity with another person in more extreme or lyrical contexts.
Still, unless you are conversing with another young, hip person, you should definitely refrain from using the terms frère or frérot while addressing others in French.
RELATED READ: Family In French
More French Words About Friends
Here are more (and specific) ways to refer to a friend in French
- bon ami – good friend
- meilleur ami – best friend
- l’ami(e) intime – close friend
- le/la camarade – buddy/friend
Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries and lived in 4 continents in the last 10 years, including France. A self-proclaimed Francophile, I love everything France.