pote
/pɔt/
The French word for pal is pote.
pote is a colloquial term used to refer to a friend or a buddy.
Meaning: (colloquial) a friend (noun)
Which one should you use?
While pote is used for casual buddies or pals, ami is the standard and more neutral word for a friend.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
pote is an informal term and should be avoided in professional or formal settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of pote is potes.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɔt/
Did you know?
- The word pote actually comes from the word poteau, which means 'post' or 'pole'.
- French has a specific distinction between un ami and un copain, with copain originally referring to someone you share bread with.
- The term pote is gender-neutral in usage, and while it is grammatically masculine, it is used frequently to refer to female friends in casual speech.
Examples in context
- « Tu es là pour suivre mes ordres. » « Dans tes rêves, mon pote ! »"You're here to follow my orders." "In your dreams, pal!"This sentence shows how to use pote in a playful, informal retort.Tatoeba #5658406 by Yemana, translation #3929376 by Delian
- Salut, mon copain ! Prêt pour une soirée de folie ?Hey, buddy! Ready for a crazy night out?
- C'est mon pote de longue date.He is an old pal of mine.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are talking about a mutual acquaintance at a cafe.
- GabrielTu as vu mon pote Lucas ?Have you seen my pal Lucas?
- ManonNon, je ne l'ai pas vu aujourd'hui.No, I haven't seen him today.
- GabrielIl doit être quelque part dans le quartier.He must be somewhere in the neighborhood.
- ManonJ'espère qu'il va bien.I hope he is doing well.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pote, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pote, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
