A comprehensive guide to French vocabulary for talking about friends, including terms for different types of friends, describing friendships, and common phrases for socializing.
This guide covers the essential French vocabulary you’ll need to talk about friends and friendships. From naming different types of friends to describing your relationships and engaging in common social interactions, these words and phrases will help you connect and communicate with confidence.
Types of Friends
French has specific words for different kinds of friends, whether they’re close companions, casual acquaintances, or childhood pals. Here are the most common terms you’ll need:
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| un ami / une amie | des amis / des amies | a friend (male/female) | friends (mixed/female) | J’ai une amie à Paris. | I have a friend in Paris. |
| un copain / une copine | des copains / des copines | a friend / boyfriend / girlfriend (colloquial) | friends / boyfriends / girlfriends | Mon copain est gentil. | My boyfriend is kind. |
| un camarade / une camarade | des camarades | a classmate / comrade | classmates / comrades | C’est ma camarade de classe. | She’s my classmate. |
| un pote / une pote | des potes | a buddy / pal (slang) | buddies / pals | Je sors avec mes potes. | I’m going out with my pals. |
| un(e) meilleur(e) ami(e) | - | a best friend (male/female) | - | Elle est ma meilleure amie. | She is my best friend. |
| un ami d’enfance / une amie d’enfance | des amis d’enfance | a childhood friend | childhood friends | J’ai revu mon amie d’enfance. | I saw my childhood friend again. |
| un(e) collègue | des collègues | a colleague | colleagues | Mon collègue est sympa. | My colleague is nice. |
| un(e) voisin(e) | des voisins / des voisines | a neighbor | neighbors | Ma voisine est gentille. | My neighbor is kind. |
| un(e) ami(e) virtuel(le) | des amis virtuels | an online friend | online friends | J’ai un ami virtuel au Japon. | I have an online friend in Japan. |
Salgo con mis ___ (buddies).
Which French word means ‘a buddy’ in slang?
potes
‘Potes’ is a slang term for ‘buddies’ or ‘pals’ in French, used in casual conversation.
Describing Friendships
Use these adjectives and expressions to talk about the nature of your friendships, from close bonds to new connections.
| French Adjective | English Adjective | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| proche | close | Je suis proche de ma sœur. | I am close to my sister. |
| fidèle | loyal | Il est un ami fidèle. | He is a loyal friend. |
| sincère | sincere | Nous avons une amitié sincère. | We have a sincere friendship. |
| amusant(e) | fun | Ma copine est très amusante. | My friend is very fun. |
| drôle | funny | Il est toujours drôle. | He is always funny. |
| compréhensif / compréhensive | understanding | Elle est très compréhensive. | She is very understanding. |
| confiant(e) | trusting | Je suis confiant en lui. | I trust him. |
| ancien(ne) | old / long-time | C’est une amie ancienne. | She is an old (long-time) friend. |
| nouveau / nouvelle | new | J’ai une nouvelle amie. | I have a new friend. |
| distant(e) | distant | Nous sommes un peu distants. | We are a bit distant. |
Common Phrases
Here are some common French phrases for talking about friends, making plans, and describing your social life.
| French Phrase | English Phrase | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| C’est un(e) ami(e) de longue date. | She’s a long-time friend. | C’est une amie de longue date. | She’s a long-time friend. |
| On se connaît depuis… | We’ve known each other for… | On se connaît depuis dix ans. | We’ve known each other for ten years. |
| On s’entend bien. | We get along well. | Je m’entends bien avec lui. | I get along well with him. |
| On se voit souvent. | We see each other often. | On se voit souvent le week-end. | We see each other often on weekends. |
| On sort ensemble. | We go out together. | On sort ensemble ce soir. | We’re going out together tonight. |
| Je lui fais confiance. | I trust him/her. | Je lui fais confiance. | I trust her. |
| On partage tout. | We share everything. | On partage tout, même nos secrets. | We share everything, even our secrets. |
| Elle est dans mon cercle d’amis. | She’s in my circle of friends. | Elle est dans mon cercle d’amis proche. | She’s in my close circle of friends. |
| Je me suis fait(e) un(e) nouveau(elle) ami(e). | I made a new friend. | Je me suis fait une nouvelle amie au travail. | I made a new friend at work. |
| On a beaucoup de points en commun. | We have a lot in common. | On a beaucoup de points en commun. | We have a lot in common. |
Nos llevamos bien.
What is the French phrase for ‘We get along well’?
On s’entend bien.
‘On s’entend bien’ means ‘We get along well’ and is used to describe a good relationship.
Social Activities
Use these words and phrases to talk about common activities you do with friends, from hanging out to celebrating special occasions.
| French Noun / Phrase | English Noun / Phrase | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| une sortie | an outing | On organise une sortie ce samedi. | We’re organizing an outing this Saturday. |
| une soirée | an evening / party | On fait une soirée chez moi. | We’re having a party at my place. |
| un dîner / un repas | a dinner / meal | On fait un dîner entre amis. | We’re having a dinner with friends. |
| un café | a coffee | Je prends un café avec mon amie. | I’m having a coffee with my friend. |
| une promenade | a walk | On fait une promenade au parc. | We’re taking a walk in the park. |
| un voyage | a trip | On part en voyage ensemble. | We’re going on a trip together. |
| une fête | a party / celebration | Il y a une fête ce week-end. | There’s a party this weekend. |
| un cadeau | a gift | J’ai acheté un cadeau pour mon ami. | I bought a gift for my friend. |
| un message | a message | Je lui ai envoyé un message. | I sent her a message. |
| un appel | a call | Je vais passer un appel à mon ami. | I’m going to call my friend. |
Friendship Verbs
These verbs are essential for talking about forming, maintaining, and describing friendships.
| French Verb | English Verb | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| connaître | to know (someone) | Je connais bien Paul. | I know Paul well. |
| rencontrer | to meet | J’ai rencontré Sophie hier. | I met Sophie yesterday. |
| fréquenter | to hang out with | Je fréquente un nouveau groupe. | I hang out with a new group. |
| sortir avec | to go out with | Je sors avec Julie ce soir. | I’m going out with Julie tonight. |
| faire confiance à | to trust | Je fais confiance à mon ami. | I trust my friend. |
| se disputer | to argue | On s’est disputés hier. | We argued yesterday. |
| se réconcilier | to make up | On s’est réconciliés ce matin. | We made up this morning. |
| partager | to share | On partage tout. | We share everything. |
| soutenir | to support | Elle me soutient toujours. | She always supports me. |
| appeler | to call | J’appelle mon ami tous les jours. | I call my friend every day. |
Cultural Notes
Understanding French friendship culture can help you navigate social situations more smoothly:
- French people often take time to build deep friendships, valuing quality over quantity.
- It’s common to greet friends with la bise (a kiss on each cheek), but the number of kisses varies by region.
- Using first names is standard among friends, but be more formal with acquaintances (using vous instead of tu).
- Inviting friends for a meal or a coffee is a typical way to strengthen bonds.
- Trust and loyalty are highly valued in French friendships, so be mindful of personal boundaries early on.
This concludes our guide to French vocabulary for friends. Whether you’re meeting new people or describing longtime friendships, these words and phrases will help you navigate social conversations with confidence.
What do French people value most in deep friendships?
Trust and loyalty.
Trust and loyalty are highly valued in French friendships, often more than frequent contact.
Flashcards (1 of 49)
- English Singular: a friend (male/female)
- English Plural: friends (mixed/female)
- English Example: I have a friend in Paris.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
