Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ami | /a.mi/ | masculine |
| copain | /kɔ.pɛ̃/ | masculine |
| amie f copine | feminine |
The term refers to a person whose company one enjoys. When using this word, you must include an article like un or une or a possessive like mon or ma before it. You cannot say is friend as you might in English.
Which one should you use?
While ami refers to a platonic friend, the masculine term copain is frequently used in an informal context to mean boyfriend. Similarly, while amie refers to a platonic female friend, the feminine term copine is frequently used to mean girlfriend in an informal context.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Ami is the standard, neutral or more formal way to refer to a friend and is suitable for all social contexts. In contrast, copain and copine are informal terms for friend. The word pote is also an informal term meaning buddy.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form amis is used for a group of male friends or a mixed-gender group of friends. For a group consisting exclusively of female friends, use the plural form amies.
How do you pronounce it?
/a.mi/
Did you know?
- The word copain literally means 'with-bread', tracing back to the Latin 'companiō' meaning someone who shares a loaf of bread with you.
- If you use the term ami in a very old-fashioned or literary way, it could historically refer to a 'lover' rather than just a platonic friend.
Examples in context
- Mon cher ami !My dear friend!This sentence is useful for expressing affection toward a friend using ami.Tatoeba #1281367 by sacredceltic, translation #3631514 by thegui
- Il est mon ami.He is my friend.This sentence is useful for stating someone is your friend using ami.Tatoeba #132332 by Micsmithel, translation #298009 by CH
- Tu fus mon ami.You were my friend.This sentence is useful for describing a past friendship using ami.Tatoeba #1460823 by sacredceltic, translation #1457274 by CK
- Je vous présente mon ami, Julien.Let me introduce you to my friend, Julien.
- J'ai pris un verre avec mon pote dans un café.I had a drink with my buddy at a café.
- 1628 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are discussing a mutual acquaintance at a cafe.
- EmmaEst-ce qu'il est ton ami ?Is he your friend?
- GabrielOui, c'est un très bon ami.Yes, he is a very good friend.
- EmmaIl est très gentil avec moi.He is very kind to me.
- GabrielC'est un ami fidèle.He is a loyal friend.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “friend” translations and entries ami, copain, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ami, amie, copain, copine, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
