лучший друг
luchshiy drug
The English phrase "bestie" can be translated into Russian as лучший друг (luchshiy drug).
The phrase refers to a person's closest or favorite friend.
Which one should you use?
While лучший друг is the literal translation of "best friend", it is more formal and less "slangy" than the English term "bestie". If you want a more colloquial or street-slang version, typically used by males, you might use лучший кореш (best buddy/close pal).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes gender and number to match the person you are describing. Use лучшая подруга for a female bestie, лучший друг for a male bestie and лучшие друзья for best friends in the plural.
How do you pronounce it?
luchshiy drug
Did you know?
- Russian has a specific word собутыльник for a 'drinking buddy', which is a type of 'friend' that is distinct from a лучший друг.
- The word друг was originally a short form of the word 'another', meaning a 'bestie' is etymologically someone who is 'another' person to you.
- In Russian, the word друг is far more exclusive than 'friend' in English. Calling someone a друг often implies a lifelong bond of trust, whereas the word знакомый is used for people you simply know.
Examples in context
- Павел всегда был моим лучшим другом.Pavel has always been my best friend.
- Он мой лучший друг.On moy luchshiy drug.He is my bestie.
- Ты мой лучший друг!Ty moy luchshiy drug!You are my bestie!
Example conversation
Dmitry and Olga are sitting in a cafe talking about people in their lives.
- Дмитрий DmitryОльга, ты мой лучший друг.Ol'ga, ty moy luchshiy drug.Olga, you are my bestie.
- Ольга OlgaСпасибо, Дмитрий, это очень мило.Spasibo, Dmitriy, eto ochen' milo.Thanks, Dmitry, that is very sweet.
- Дмитрий DmitryЯ всегда буду тебе помогать.Ya vsegda budu tebe pomogat'.I will always help you.
- Ольга OlgaЯ это ценю.Ya eto tsenyu.I appreciate it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries друг, лучший, CC BY-SA 4.0.
