Friends vocabulary includes words for different types of friends, ways to describe friendship, and common actions friends do together. Learning these words helps you talk about your social life and build relationships in English.
Types of Friends
These words help you describe different kinds of friends you might have.
| English | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Best friend | The person you are closest to | My best friend and I share everything. |
| Close friend | A friend you trust and see often | She’s a close friend from college. |
| Childhood friend | A friend you’ve known since you were a child | I have a childhood friend who lives nearby. |
| New friend | Someone you have just met and become friends with | I made a new friend at the party. |
| Online friend | A friend you only know through the internet | My online friend lives in another country. |
| Mutual friend | A friend you both know | We have a mutual friend at work. |
| Group of friends | A small group you hang out with | I’m going to the movies with my group of friends. |
| Roommate | A person you live with, often a friend | My roommate is also one of my best friends. |
| Acquaintance | Someone you know but are not close to | He’s just an acquaintance from class. |
| Soulmate | A friend with whom you have a deep, special connection | She feels like a soulmate, not just a friend. |
Describing Friendship
These words and phrases help you talk about the nature of your friendships.
| English | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Loyal | Always supportive and faithful | She’s a loyal friend who’s always there for me. |
| Trustworthy | Someone you can trust | He’s trustworthy and never shares my secrets. |
| Supportive | Always helps and encourages you | My friends are very supportive during tough times. |
| Close | Having a strong bond | We are very close friends. |
| Good company | Pleasant to spend time with | She’s good company on long trips. |
| Best buddies | Informal for very close friends | We’ve been best buddies since high school. |
| Like family | So close it feels like family | My friends are like family to me. |
| Fair-weather friend | A friend who is only around when things are good | I realized he was a fair-weather friend. |
| Lifelong friend | A friend you expect to have forever | She’s a lifelong friend I’ll never forget. |
| Fellow | Used to describe someone in the same group (e.g., fellow students) | She’s a fellow traveler I met on the train. |
Fill the blank: My friends are like _____ to me.
family
Saying friends are like family means you feel very close to them.
Actions with Friends
These words help you describe common activities you do with friends.
| English | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hang out | Spend time together informally | We like to hang out at the park. |
| Chat | Talk casually | I chatted with my friend online last night. |
| Catch up | Talk to someone after not seeing them for a while | Let’s meet for coffee and catch up. |
| Go out | Go somewhere social, like a restaurant or club | We went out to dinner last Friday. |
| Text/message | Send written communication on a phone | I texted my friend about the movie. |
| Invite | Ask someone to join you | She invited me to her birthday party. |
| Share | Tell someone your thoughts or things | I shared my worries with a close friend. |
| Support | Help someone emotionally or practically | Friends support each other during hard times. |
| Celebrate | Have fun together for a special occasion | We celebrated her promotion last night. |
| Meet up | Get together in person | Let’s meet up this weekend. |
Emotions in Friendship
These words describe the feelings we often experience in friendships.
| English | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Happy | Feeling joy or pleasure | I feel happy when I’m with my friends. |
| Grateful | Feeling thankful | I’m grateful for my friends’ support. |
| Comforted | Feeling better when upset | Talking to her made me feel comforted. |
| Excited | Feeling eager and enthusiastic | I’m excited to see my friends this weekend. |
| Lonely | Feeling sad because of no friends or company | Sometimes I feel lonely on weekends. |
| Appreciated | Feeling valued and recognized | My friends made me feel appreciated. |
| Jealous | Feeling unhappy because of something a friend has | I felt jealous when she got the job I wanted. |
| Surprised | Feeling astonished or unexpectedly happy | I was surprised by my friends’ party. |
| Connected | Feeling close and understood | I feel connected to my friends even online. |
| Relaxed | Feeling calm and stress-free | I’m relaxed when I’m with good friends. |
Fill the blank: I’m _____ for my friends’ support.
grateful
Grateful means feeling thankful for what others have done for you.
Friendship Idioms
These idioms are common ways to talk about friendship in English.
| English | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A friend in need is a friend indeed | A true friend helps you when you’re in trouble | She helped me move — a friend in need is a friend indeed. |
| Birds of a feather flock together | People with similar interests become friends | They both love hiking — birds of a feather flock together. |
| Through thick and thin | Staying friends in good times and bad | We’ve been friends through thick and thin. |
| Hit it off | To quickly become good friends | We met at a party and hit it off immediately. |
| On the same wavelength | Thinking the same way | We get along because we’re on the same wavelength. |
| Break the ice | To start a conversation in a new situation | I told a joke to break the ice with my new classmates. |
| Make up | To become friends again after a fight | They argued but made up quickly. |
| Keep in touch | To continue communicating | Even after graduation, we keep in touch. |
| Lose touch | To stop communicating | I’ve lost touch with some old friends. |
| Two peas in a pod | Two people who are very similar and close | Those two are like two peas in a pod. |
Friends vocabulary in English covers types of friends, describing relationships, common activities, feelings, and idioms to help you talk confidently about your social life.
Fill the blank: _____ — a friend in trouble is a true friend.
A friend in need is a friend indeed
This idiom means a true friend helps you when you’re in trouble.
Flashcards (1 of 50)
- Description: The person you are closest to
- Example: My best friend and I share everything.
- English: Best friend
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
