ami proche
The English phrase 'close friend' is translated into French as ami proche.
The phrase describes a person with whom one has a very strong and intimate personal relationship.
Which one should you use?
While ami proche refers to a close friend, the informal terms copain or copine are frequently used to mean boyfriend or girlfriend in a romantic context. To specify a 'best friend', you would use meilleur(e) ami(e).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, the term chum is frequently used to refer to a close friend.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes depending on the gender and number of the people you are describing. Use amie proche when referring to a single female close friend. For multiple close friends, use amis proches. If you are referring to a group consisting only of female close friends, use amies proches.
Did you know?
- In France, if you describe someone as un ami, it often implies a deeper, more lifelong bond than if you call them un copain, which can just mean a casual acquaintance.
- While ami proche is the standard, if you want to emphasize that a friend is 'part of the family', you might skip the word 'friend' entirely and use the term un proche to mean 'a loved one'.
- The word ami shares a common ancestor with the English word 'amity', which refers to a state of peaceful relations between nations or groups.
Examples in context
- J'ai eu la chance de rencontrer un ami proche pendant mon voyage à Paris.I had the chance to meet a close friend during my trip to Paris.
- Ma meilleure amie est aussi mon amie intime.My best friend is also my close friend.
- Mon pote Marc et moi, nous sommes inséparables.My close friend Marc and I are inseparable.
- Marie est ma meilleure amie depuis l'école primaire.Marie has been my best friend since elementary school.
Example conversation
Manon and Nathan are talking about their social circle at a café.
- ManonEst-ce que Lucas est un ami proche ?Is Lucas a close friend?
- NathanOui, c'est un ami proche depuis l'enfance.Yes, he has been a close friend since childhood.
- ManonC'est merveilleux d'avoir un ami proche comme lui.It is wonderful to have a close friend like him.
- NathanAbsolument, je peux toujours compter sur lui.Absolutely, I can always count on him.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ami, proche, CC BY-SA 4.0.
