Which one should you use?
While amis refers to friends, using copains in the phrase on est copains ? implies a more casual, buddy-like relationship rather than a deep friendship.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form on est amis ? is colloquial. For more formal situations, you can use Est-ce que nous pouvons être amis ? (Can we be friends?), Voulez-vous être mon ami(e)? (Do you want to be my friend?), J'aimerais être votre ami(e) (I would like to be your friend.), or Serait-il possible de devenir amis? (Would it be possible to become friends?). Informal options include On pourrait être amis? (Could we be friends?), Est-ce qu'on peut devenir amis? (Can we become friends?), Est-ce que ça te dirait d'être mon pote ?, J'aimerais bien qu'on devienne amis and Tu veux être mon pote? (Do you want to be my buddy?).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, the word chum is used as slang for friend.
How does it change in a sentence?
If the group of people being asked consists only of women, the spelling of the adjective changes from amis to amies in the form on est amies ?
Did you know?
- In French, copains literally means 'companions of bread', coming from the Latin 'com' meaning 'with' and 'panis' meaning 'bread'.
- In Quebec, Canada, the word chum is used for a friend, which is a direct borrowing from the English word 'chum' that has since vanished from common use in the UK and US.
- The pronoun on in on est amis ? shares a common ancestor with the English word 'man' used to mean 'one' or 'people'.
Example conversation
Two students meet for the first time at a cafe.
- HugoJe m'appelle Hugo, et toi ?My name is Hugo, and you?
- ManonMoi, c'est Manon. Enchantée !I'm Manon. Nice to meet you!
- HugoOn est amis ?Wanna be friends?
- ManonOui, avec plaisir !Yes, I'd love to!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries est, on, CC BY-SA 4.0.
