mon ami
The English phrase "my friend" is translated into French as mon ami.
This phrase refers to a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection and trust. You can use Mon amie proche to specifically emphasize a close bond with a female friend. In informal settings, you may hear Ma copine to refer to a female friend, though be aware that this can also mean "girlfriend".
Which one should you use?
The form you choose depends on the gender of the friend and the nature of the relationship. Use mon ami for a male friend and mon amie for a female friend. While mon ami or mon amie implies a platonic bond, you should use mon petit ami or mon copain if you actually mean "my boyfriend".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes based on the gender of the friend: use mon ami for a male friend and mon amie for a female friend. For plural use, mes amis refers to a group of male or mixed-gender friends, while mes amies is used for a group consisting only of female friends.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using mon copain or mon petit ami if you only mean to describe a platonic friend, as these terms are more commonly used to mean "my boyfriend".
Did you know?
- Even if your friend is female, you must use the masculine possessive adjective mon instead of ma before amie to avoid a clash of vowel sounds.
- The word ami shares a common ancestor with the word 'amorous', as both stem from the Latin root for 'love'.
- In certain French slang, calling someone mon pote is much more common than mon ami among young people and casual acquaintances.
Examples in context
- Il est mon ami.He is my friend.This sentence demonstrates the use of mon ami to state that someone is your friend.Tatoeba #132332 by Micsmithel, translation #298009 by CH
- Tu fus mon ami.You were my friend.This sentence shows how to use mon ami in the past tense.Tatoeba #1460823 by sacredceltic, translation #1457274 by CK
- Tu es mon amie.You are my friend.This sentence shows the use of mon ami when addressing a female friend.Tatoeba #2749329 by Micsmithel, translation #370562 by saeb
- J'aimerais vous présenter mon amie, Marie.I would like to introduce you to my friend, Marie.
- Voici mon amie proche, Sophie.Here is my close friend, Sophie.
- Ma pote Charlotte est super sympa.My buddy Charlotte is super nice.
- 384 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma introduces Hugo to someone at a party.
- EmmaJe te présente mon ami Hugo.I introduce you to my friend Hugo.
- HugoEnchanté de faire ta connaissance.Nice to meet you.
- EmmaC'est mon ami depuis l'école.He is my friend from school.
- HugoC'est super, ravi de te rencontrer.That's great, glad to meet you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ami, mon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
