bester Freund
masculine
The English phrase "best friend" is translated into German as bester Freund. Wiktionary also lists beste Freundin.
Meaning: an especially close and trusted friend (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | Note |
|---|---|
| bester Freund | masculine |
| beste Freundin | feminine |
The term is used to describe an especially close and trusted friend.
Which one should you use?
The choice between forms depends on the gender of the person you are describing: use bester Freund for a male best friend and beste Freundin for a female best friend.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending -er in bester Freund indicates that it is the masculine nominative singular form. To refer to multiple people (best friends), use the plural form beste Freunde.
Did you know?
- While 'best friend' is a common term, in many parts of Germany, calling someone a Freund without a modifier can actually imply a romantic partner or a lover.
- German distinguishes between a 'friend' (Freund) and an 'acquaintance' (Bekannter) much more strictly than English does. Calling someone a Freund implies a high level of trust and a deep bond.
- While Freund means 'friend' in German, its linguistic cousins in Scandinavian languages, such as the Swedish frände and Norwegian frende, shifted in meaning to refer specifically to a 'relative'.
Examples in context
- Wer ist ihr bester Freund?Who's her best friend?This sentence is useful for asking who a female's best friend is using bester Freund.Tatoeba #5882325 by dasbeispielholz, translation #12466865 by sundown
- Tom ist mein bester Freund.Tom is my best friend.This sentence shows how to state that someone is your best friend using bester Freund.Tatoeba #1524565 by Espi, translation #1524561 by Spamster
- Ich bin dein bester Freund.I'm your best friend.This sentence demonstrates how to declare yourself as someone's best friend using bester Freund.Tatoeba #1844006 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1841620 by CK
- Mein bester Freund begleitet mich zur Veranstaltung.My best friend is accompanying me to the event.
- Er ist mein engster Freund und vertraut mir immer.He is my closest friend and always trusts me.
- Meine treueste Freundin steht mir immer zur Seite, egal was passiert.My most loyal friend is always there for me, no matter what happens.
- Er ist mein bester Kumpel. Wir machen alles zusammen.He is my best buddy. We do everything together.
- Sie ist meine beste Freundin fürs Leben. Wir werden immer zusammenhalten.She is my best friend for life. We will always stick together.
- 128 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Lukas are talking about their social lives at a cafe.
- SarahHast du einen besten Freund hier?Do you have a best friend here?
- LukasJa, mein bester Freund ist in der Stadt.Yes, my best friend is in town.
- SarahDas ist schön für dich, Lukas.That is nice for you, Lukas.
- LukasDanke, er ist wirklich ein toller Mensch.Thanks, he is a really great person.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “best friend” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Freund, Freundin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
