What is the definition of the word friend

The word friend is used a lot in English conversations, writings, movies, television. The word has many different meanings, idioms and can be used in a lot of different ways. Read on if you want to know all the different ways friend is used in English.

I have included examples and dialogues to make it easier to understand and see how friend is used by native English speakers, in every day situations.

First of all, what does friend mean?

1. The noun friend refers to person that you have a good and close relationship with. This person is somebody who you feel you can trust and confide in.

2. A friend can be a member of the family, somebody you met at school or at work, somebody you have similar interests with or somebody that you like and enjoy spending time with. A relationship between friends is not a romantic or sexual relationship.

3. The noun friend can also be used to refer to a person or organisation that supports another organisation or group and usually gives them money or funding.

Below are examples of how friend can be used:

When friend is used to refer to person that you have a very good relationship with, a person that you can trust or a person that you have similar interests with.

• They are great friends, they met at work and realised that they have a lot in common with each other, they enjoy the same types of films and listen to similar music.
• This is my cousin Karen but she is also a very close friend, I tell her everything.
• “Is John your boyfriend? You are always together.” “No, he’s not my boyfriend, he’s just a really good friend. He is always there for me and we have the same sense of humour. We always have a great time together.”
• Who are your friends at school? Who do you spend most of your time with?

When friend is used to refer to a person or organisation that provides funding to another organisation.

• Sterling Ltd, has always been a generous friend to the company, without them this place wouldn’t have stayed afloat for so long.
• This charity organisation relies on our friend’s donations to help us make a difference in the world.
• The Carlyle group, friends of the National Art Museum, have been supporting us from the beginning and we are forever grateful to them.

Below is dialogue discussing somebody’s closest friend:

Justin: Who is your best friend?
Jane: Chloe is my best friend.

Justin: Why did you pick Chloe? Why is she different from your other close friends?
Jane: I picked Chloe because we have been friends for a long time and she has always been there for me.

Justin: What do you mean?
Jane: Whenever I need support or somebody to confide in, I know I can call her and she will drop everything to comfort me and reassure me that everything will work out.

Justin: That sounds like the ideal friendship. It’s very important to have loyal friends around you whom you know you can trust.
Jane: It is, I am very lucky.

Justin: Do you have a lot in common with Chloe?
Jane: I do, we are both passionate swimmers and we both enjoy outdoor activities such as rock climbing, hiking and jogging.

Justin: It’s the perfect friendship!

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More for you:
Collocations with Friend!
Other Ways to say BEST FRIEND?

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There are many different types of words that can be created with friend.

Nouns

1. Friendship
this noun describes a close and loyal relationship between friends.

• They have had a long friendship, they have been through everything together and can trust each other with anything.
• Before they started dating each other they had a great friendship but that all changed once they began dating.
• I feel very lucky to have her as a friend. We have so many things in common, we like the same music, we are both interested in sociology and we have similar political opinions. We have a great friendship and I hope we will stay friends for a long time.

2. Friendlessness
this noun refers to a case or situation of somebody not having any friends.

• Her friendlessness is a result of her timidness and lack of trust in other people.
• To be friendlessness can be very lonely and isolating, everybody needs somebody to talk to and to rely on.

3. Friendly
is used as a noun in sports terminology. A friendly match, is a match between two teams that is not part of any competitive tournament. Therefore the match is less competitive and gives the two teams an opportunity to train without any added pressure.

• “What is the point of a friendly match?” the player asked his coach “The point is you can put everything that you have learnt into practice and we can see what we need to improve on as a team”
• “Are you watching the match later?” “I don’t think so, it’s a friendly which means it will probably be boring.”

4. Boyfriend/girlfriend
this is the name of a person that you are in a romantic relationship with. Boyfriends and girlfriends are usually dating or exclusive to one another.

• This is my boyfriend, we have been dating for four years and are planning on moving in together.
• He asked her to be his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day.
• They were boyfriend and girlfriend for a long time before they got married.
• She loves her boyfriend and is the happiest she has ever been.

Adjectives

1. Friendless
this describes a person that has no friends or companions.

• Due to my selfish and greedy actions, I am now friendless. I pushed everyone away in my pursuit of money and fame.
• You are my only true friend, if you leave I will be friendless and alone, I need you here.
• There are children in school who are shy and find it difficult to make friends. The teachers try to help encourage them to socialise with their peers so they don’t remain friendless.

2. Friendly

• Friendly can describe a person’s characteristic – the friendly doorman is always outgoing and happy.
• Friendly can describe an attribute – he has a very friendly smile.
• Friendly describes an agreeable or hospitable environment – her house was alway friendly and welcoming.

3. Friendlier
is the comparative of the adjective friendly.

• Our old neighbour was a lot friendlier than the new neighbours, I wish they never moved away.
• Rebecca seems friendlier than her sister, she is a lot more outgoing and engaging.
• She wants to be friendlier with her colleagues but she is very shy.

4. Friendliest
is the superlative of friendly.

• Lucky is the friendliest dog I have ever met, he always wants to be part of the group and loves all the attention.
• Nowadays they are on the friendliest terms but in the past the two sisters were very hostile and aggressive towards one another.
• Greg is the friendliest policeman I have ever met.

5. User-friendly
is used to describe something that is easy to understand or use.

• They wanted to create a user-friendly device that anybody could use without confusion and with ease.
• When creating a website, a good web designer will also make sure to create a user-friendly site that every customer can use.

Verb

Friend
this verb is used to refer to the action of inviting or accepting a person as a friend through a social media platform.

• He friended her on Facebook after meeting her in a bar.
• After meeting each other on summer vacation, the two girls promised to friend each other on their social media accounts as soon as they arrived home.

Adverb

Friendlily
this describes a friendly nature or manner of something or someone.

• She friendlily approached the child as she didn’t want to frighten her.
• They laughed friendlily at Frank when he tripped over the rock.

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More for you:
Phone Conversation: Most Commonly Used English Phrases
Informal Letter to Friend About Summer Vacation

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Friend has many related idioms, let’s have a look at the most common idioms:

1. A friend in need is a friend indeed

This idiom means that true friends show themselves in times of need or when times get hard. Loyal friends stand by you while others disappear and offer little support or help.

Here is dialogue using the idiom:

Sarah: Karen was so supportive when my mother was sick, it really showed me who my true friends are.
Kim: Did a lot of your friends help you?
Sarah: Unfortunately I lost a lot of friends during this time. I think it got too intense for many of them. Karen was the only person who supported me and comforted me.

Kim: A friend in need is a friend indeed. When times get tough it’s always interesting to see who sticks by.
Sarah: I know what you mean. I was very surprised to be abandoned by some many people but it has shown me who my true friends are. Karen was there for me whenever I needed comfort and a shoulder to cry on, she was brilliant!

2. Fair weather friend

A fair weather friend refers to a person who was considered a friend but when times got tough and you needed them, they weren’t around to support you.

For example:

• When she was rich and famous she was surrounded by people she assumed were her friends. She realised they were fair weather friends when she became bankrupt and lost everything, these “friends” deserted her and she was left with nothing.
• Do you think he is a true friend or is he a fair weather friend? Will he abandon you at the first sign of trouble?

3. Friends in high places

Friends in high places are friends or acquaintances whom are powerful or influential in business or politics. You can rely on these friends to support you and help you get to where you want or help you get what you want.

For example:

• Many people think that you need friends in high places to become a powerful politician. That your intelligence or experience is irrelevant compared to who you know.
• Scott only had to serve one week in prison for his crimes because he has friends in high places, he should have served a much longer sentence.

4. Man’s best friend

A man’s best friend is a loving way of referring to a person’s pet dog as dogs are very loyal to their owner.

Here is dialogue using the idiom:

Son: Why do they say a dog is a man’s best friend?
Mother: People say that because dogs are loyal and devoted to their owners. You will see many dogs following their owner everywhere they go and protecting them from strangers or danger. Do you understand now?
Son: I do, now I want a dog!

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More for you:
10 Idioms About Friendship and Relationships [Infographic]
Friends With Benefits Meaning

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Word	FRIEND
Character	6
Hyphenation	friend
Pronunciations	/fɹɛnd/

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What do we mean by friend?

A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts. noun

A person whom one knows; an acquaintance. noun

A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; a comrade. noun

One who supports, sympathizes with, or patronizes a group, cause, or movement. noun

A member of the Society of Friends; a Quaker. noun

To add (someone) as a friend on a social networking website. transitive verb

To befriend. transitive verb

(be friends with) To be a friend of. idiom

One who is attached to another by feelings of personal regard and preference; one who entertains for another sentiments which lead him to seek his company and to study to promote his welfare. noun

One not hostile; one of the same nation, party, or kin; one at amity with another; an ally: opposed to foe or enemy. noun

One who is favorable, as to a cause, institution, or class; a favorer or promoter: as, a friend of or to commerce; a friend of or to public schools. noun

Used as a term of salutation, or in familiar address. noun

capitalized A member of the Society of Friends; a Quaker. noun

A lover, of either sex. noun

In Scotslaw, a tutor or curator. noun

Synonyms Companion, Comrade, etc. See associate. noun

Patron, advocate, partizan, well-wisher. noun

To befriend.

One who entertains for another such sentiments of esteem, respect, and affection that he seeks his society and welfare; a wellwisher; an intimate associate; sometimes, an attendant. noun

One not inimical or hostile; one not a foe or enemy; also, one of the same nation, party, kin, etc., whose friendly feelings may be assumed. The word is some times used as a term of friendly address. noun

A person other than a family member, spouse or lover whose company one enjoys and towards whom one feels affection.

An associate who provides assistance.

A person with whom one is vaguely or indirectly acquainted.

A person who backs or supports something.

An object or idea that can be used for good.

(used only in the vocative) Used as a form of address when warning someone.

A function or class granted special access to the private and protected members of another class.

A spring-loaded camming device.

A lover; a boyfriend or girlfriend.

A relative, a relation by blood or marriage.

Nonexistent Urban Dictionary

The thing you dont have Urban Dictionary

A friend is someone you love and who loves you, someone you respect and who respects you, someone whom you trust and who trusts you. A friend is honest and makes you want to be honest, too. A friend is loyal.
A friend is someone who is happy to spend time with you doing absolutely nothing at all; someone who doesn’t mind driving you on stupid errands, who will get up at midnight just because you want to go on an adventure, and who doesn’t have to talk to communicate with you.
A friend is someone who not only doesn’t care if you’re ugly or boring, but doesn’t even think about it; someone who forgives you no matter what you do, and someone who tries to help you even when they don’t know how. A friend is someone who tells you if you’re being stupid, but who doesn’t make you feel stupid.
A friend is someone who would sacrifice their life and happiness for you. A friend is someone who will come with you when you have to do boring things like watch bad recitals, go to stuffy parties, or wait in boring lobbies. You don’t even think about who’s talking or who’s listening in a conversation with a friend.
A friend is someone for whom you’re willing to change your opinions. A friend is someone you look forward to seeing and who looks forward to seeing you: someone you like so much, it doesn’t matter if you share interests or traits. A friend is someone you like so much, you start to like the things they like.
A friend is a partner, not a leader or a follower. Urban Dictionary

«a friend is something you obviously don’t have, since you’re browsing urban dictionary instead of hanging out with them» Urban Dictionary

Somebody that you still care and share alot in common with & hang around alot with. You can trust this person with secrets and goof off with this person. This person is someone who doesn’t go off and tell everyone your most embarrassing stuff. This person this person isn’t a best friend but is a great friend.
look up best friend Urban Dictionary

A person who would never intentionally hurt you, lie to you, deceive you, manipulate you, abuse you and who takes great care to be kind to you, honest with you, dependable and loyal. Someone who you trust without question because they have never given you any reason not to trust them. Someone you enjoy being around and look forward to seeing. Someone who would sacrifice themself for you. Urban Dictionary

A good friend will bail you outta jail.
a best friend will be right there next to you saying «dude that was fucking awesome!!!!!!!» Urban Dictionary

In friend there is an R that stands for real, without the R its fiend, a merciless demon only wanting to destroy you. Urban Dictionary

Verb—the act of adding someone to your social networking profile. Urban Dictionary

FRIEND-
» a kindred spirit. Someone who is born with a similar molecular structure as yourself and therefore interprets life through similar alien eyes thereby living on the same alien plane that you do.» Urban Dictionary

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English frend, freend, from Old English frēond (“friend”, literally “loving[-one], lover”), from Proto-West Germanic *friund, from Proto-Germanic *frijōndz (“lover, friend”), from Proto-Indo-European *preyH- (“to like, love”), equivalent to free +‎ -nd.

Cognate with Saterland Frisian Fjund, Früünd (“friend”), West Frisian freon, froen, freondinne (“friend”), Dutch vriend (“friend”), Low German Frund, Fründ (“friend, relative”), Luxembourgish Frënd (“friend”), German Freund (“friend”), Danish frænde (“kinsman”), Swedish frände (“kinsman, relative”), Icelandic frændi (“kinsman”), Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌹𐌾𐍉𐌽𐌳𐍃 (frijōnds, “friend”). More at free.

Other cognates include Russian приятель (prijatelʹ, “friend”) and Sanskrit प्रिय (priyá-, “beloved”).

Pronunciation[edit]

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) enPR: frĕnd, IPA^(key): /fɹɛnd/, [fɹ̥end̥]
• (now dialectal) IPA^(key): /frɪnd/^[1]
• Rhymes: -ɛnd

Noun[edit]

friend (plural friends)

1. A person, typically someone other than a family member, spouse or lover, whose company one enjoys and towards whom one feels affection.
   • 1841, Ralph Waldo Emerson, «Friendship», Essays, Vol. I:

     The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.

   • 1917, Richard M. Gummere translating Seneca as Ad Lucilium Epistulae Morales, Loeb Classical Library, Vol. I, No. 3:

     …if you consider any man a friend whom you do not trust as you trust yourself, you are mightily mistaken and you do not sufficiently understand what true friendship means.

   • 1923, William Armistead Falconer translating Cicero as De Amicitia, Loeb Classical Library, Vol. XX, p. 34:

     …he who looks upon a true friend, looks, as it were, upon a sort of image of himself. Wherefore friends, though absent, are at hand; though in need, yet abound; though weak, are strong; and—harder saying still—though dead, are yet alive; so great is the esteem on the part of their friends, the tender recollection and the deep longing that still attends them.

   • 1927 Mar. 31, Ernest Hemingway, letter to F. Scott Fitzgerald:

     …you are my devoted friend too. You do more and work harder and oh shit I’d get maudlin about how damned swell you are. My god I’d like to see you… You’re a hell of a good guy.

   • 1933 Dec. 12, Walter Winchell, «On Broadway», Scranton Republican, p. 5:

     Definition of a friend: One who walks in—when the rest of the world walks out.

   John and I have been friends ever since we were roommates at college.   Trust is important between friends.   I used to find it hard to make friends when I was shy.

   We became friends in the war and remain friends to this day.    We were friends with some girls from the other school and stayed friends with them.

2. An associate who provides assistance.

   The Automobile Association is every motorist’s friend.   The police is every law-abiding citizen’s friend.

3. A person with whom one is vaguely or indirectly acquainted.

   • 2013 June 21, Oliver Burkeman, “The tao of tech”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 2, page 27:

     The dirty secret of the internet is that all this distraction and interruption is immensely profitable. Web companies like to boast about […], or offering services that let you «stay up to date with what your friends are doing», […] and so on. But the real way to build a successful online business is to be better than your rivals at undermining people’s control of their own attention.

   a friend of a friend;  I added him as a friend on Facebook, but I hardly know him.

4. A person who backs or supports something.

   I’m not a friend of cheap wine.

5. (informal) An object or idea that can be used for good.

   Fruit is your friend.

6. (colloquial, ironic, used only in the vocative) Used as a form of address when warning someone.

   You’d better watch it, friend.

7. (object-oriented programming) A function or class granted special access to the private and protected members of another class.

   • 1991, Tom Swan, Learning C++:

     But don’t take the following sections as an endorsement of friends. Top C++ programmers avoid using friends unless absolutely necessary.

   • 2001, Stephen Prata, C++ primer plus:

     In that case, the function needn’t (and shouldn’t) be a friend.

   • 2008, D S Malik, C++ Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design:

     To make a function be a friend to a class, the reserved word friend precedes the function prototype […]

8. (climbing) A spring-loaded camming device.
   • 1995, Rock Climbing Basics

     Since they were introduced in the 1970s, friends have revolutionized climbing, making protection possible in previously impossible places […]

9. (euphemistic) A lover; a boyfriend or girlfriend.

   • c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:

     Nor to the motion of a schoolboy’s tongue ; Nor never come in visard to my friend

   • 1813, Samuel Foote, The Commissary, Etc., page 17:

     Time has been, when a gentleman wanted a friend, I could supply him with choice in an hour; but the market is spoiled, and a body might as soon produce a hare or a partridge […]

   • 1975, Janis Ian, «In the Winter»:

     I met your friend. She’s very nice, what can I say?

10. (Scotland, obsolete) A relative, a relation by blood or marriage.

    Friends agree best at a distance.

    Make friends of framet folk.

    • 1895, Crockett, Bog-Myrtle, 232:

      He was not a drop’s blood to me, though him and my wife were far-out friends.

11. (in the plural, usually preceded by «and») Used to refer collectively to a group of associated individuals, especially those comprising a cast, company, or crew

    Synonyms: and company, et al.

    Meanwhile on The View, Whoopi Goldberg and friends continue to issue forced apologies for their assumptive comments regarding non-profit organisation Turning Point USA…

Usage notes[edit]

• friends is found as an invariable plural in the phrases make friends with and be friends with: I am friends with her; He made friends with his co-worker.
• We usually make a friend, or make friends with someone. See Appendix:Collocations of do, have, make, and take
• In older texts and certain dialects, the prepositional phrase to friend means «as a friend or an ally», for exampleː «with God to frend (Spenser)». The antonym to the phrase to friend is to fiend.

Synonyms[edit]

• (person whose company one enjoys): See Thesaurus:friend
• (boyfriend or girlfriend): See Thesaurus:lover
• (person with whom you are acquainted): acquaintance, contact
• (person who provides assistance): ally
• (person who backs something): admirer, booster, champion, protagonist, supporter
• (form of address used in warning someone): buster, mate (British), pal, buddy, sonny

Antonyms[edit]

• (person whose company one enjoys): See Thesaurus:enemy
• (person with whom you are acquainted): stranger
• (person who provides assistance): enemy, foe

Derived terms[edit]

Descendants[edit]

• → Cantonese: friend (fen¹)
• → Finnish: frendi
• → Serbo-Croatian:
  • Latin script: frȅnd
  • Cyrillic script: фре̏нд

Translations[edit]

Verb[edit]

friend (third-person singular simple present friends, present participle friending, simple past and past participle friended)

1. (transitive, obsolete) To act as a friend to, to befriend; to be friendly to, to help.
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, IV.ii:

     Lo sluggish Knight the victors happie pray: / So fortune friends the bold […].

   • 1896, Alfred Edward Housman, A Shropshire Lad, LXII:

     ’Tis true, the stuff I bring for sale
     Is not so brisk a brew as ale:
     Out of a stem that scored the hand
     I wrung it in a weary land.
     But take it: if the smack is sour,
     The better for the embittered hour;
     It should do good to heart and head
     When your soul is in my soul’s stead;
     And I will friend you, if I may,
     In the dark and cloudy day.

2. (transitive) To add (a person) to a list of friends on a social networking site; to officially designate (someone) as a friend.
   • 2006, David Fono and Kate Raynes-Goldie, «Hyperfriendship and Beyond: Friends and Social Norms on LiveJournal» (PDF version), Internet Research Annual Volume 4, Peter Lang, →ISBN, page 99,

     The difference between responses to the statement, «If someone friends me, I will friend them,» and «If I friend someone, I expect them to friend me back,» is telling.

   • 2006, Kevin Farnham; Dale G. Farnham, Myspace Safety: 51 Tips for Teens And Parents‎^[2], How-To Primers, →ISBN, page 69:

     One of the most used features of MySpace is the practice that is nicknamed «friending.» If you «friend» someone, then that person is added to your MySpace friends list, and you are added to their friends list.

Synonyms[edit]

• (to act as the friend of): befriend

Antonyms[edit]

• (social networking): defriend, unfriend

Translations[edit]

References[edit]

Further reading[edit]

• friend at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams[edit]

• Friden, finder, frined, redfin, refin’d, refind

Chinese[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from English friend.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

friend

1. (Cantonese) friend (Classifier: 個／个 c)

   佢係我個friend嚟㗎。 [Cantonese, trad.]
   佢系我个friend嚟㗎。 [Cantonese, simp.]

   keoi⁵ hai⁶ ngo⁵ go³ fen¹ lai⁴ gaa³. [Jyutping]

   He’s my friend.

   • 我個friend話：「唔會衰嘅，邊有咁容易吖，世界咁多人死又唔見你去死。」 [Cantonese, trad.]
     我个friend话：“唔会衰嘅，边有咁容易吖，世界咁多人死又唔见你去死。” [Cantonese, simp.]

     From: 2008, 李紫媚 (Jessica Li), 《盜與罪：青少年犯罪預防理論與對策》 (Theft and delinquency: juvenile crime prevention theories and practice), page 180

     ngo⁵ go³ fen¹ waa⁶: “M⁴ wui⁵ seoi¹ ge³, bin¹ jau⁵ gam³ jung⁴ ji⁶ aa¹, sai³ gaai³ gam³ do¹ jan⁴ sei² jau⁶ m⁴ gin³ nei⁵ heoi³ sei².” [Jyutping]

     My friend said, «It’s not gonna go wrong. It’s not that easy [to go wrong]. There are so many people in the world, and I don’t see you dying.»

   • 喂，乜你班friend咁踢波嘅，係咪有啲唔對路？ [Cantonese, trad.]
     喂，乜你班friend咁踢波嘅，系咪有啲唔对路？ [Cantonese, simp.]

     From: 2015, Playboy 文 (pseudonym), 《港股策略王》, issue 18, page 69

     wai², mat¹ nei⁵ baan¹ fen¹ gam² tek³ bo¹ ge², hai⁶ mai⁶ jau⁵ di¹ m⁴ deoi³ lou⁶? [Jyutping]

     Hey, how come your friends play soccer like this. Is there some problem?

   • 我個friend叫我去佢屋企坐吓，但又唔話我知佢女友喺度，搞到我變咗做電燈膽。 [Cantonese, trad.]
     我个friend叫我去佢屋企坐吓，但又唔话我知佢女友喺度，搞到我变咗做电灯胆。 [Cantonese, simp.]

     From: 2016, 董德偉, 《英語講呢D》, page 101

     ngo⁵ go³ fen¹ giu³ ngo⁵ heoi³ keoi⁵ uk¹ kei^5-2 co⁵ haa⁵, daan⁶ jau⁶ m⁴ waa⁶ ngo⁵ zi¹ keoi⁵ neoi⁵ jau⁵ hai² dou⁶, gaau² dou³ ngo⁵ bin³ zo² zou⁶ din⁶ dang¹ daam². [Jyutping]

     When my friend invited me to hang out at his house but he didn’t tell me that his girlfriend would be there too, he made me a third wheel.

2. (Cantonese, always with the classifier) the likes of; something similar to (Classifier: 啲 c)

   • 警方昨向黃發信，指漫畫提到假新聞是從「少年警訊啲friend傳出嚟㗎」，對漫畫的無理指控表達強烈不滿和關注，要求澄清。 [Cantonese, trad.]
     警方昨向黄发信，指漫画提到假新闻是从“少年警讯啲friend传出嚟㗎”，对漫画的无理指控表达强烈不满和关注，要求澄清。 [Cantonese, simp.]

     ging² fong¹ zok³ hoeng³ wong⁴ faat³ seon³, zi² maan⁶ waa² tai⁴ dou³ gaa² san¹ man⁴ si⁶ cung⁴ “siu³ nin⁴ ging² seon³ di¹ fen¹ cyun⁴ ceot¹ lai⁴ gaa³”, deoi³ maan⁶ waa² dik¹ mou⁴ lei⁵ zi² hung³ biu² daat⁶ koeng⁴ lit⁶ bat¹ mun⁵ wo⁴ gwaan¹ zyu³, jiu¹ kau⁴ cing⁴ cing¹. [Jyutping]

     (please add an English translation of this example)

Synonyms[edit]

• (friend): 朋友 (péngyou)

Adjective[edit]

friend

1. (Cantonese) in a close or friendly relationship

   我哋好friend㗎。 [Cantonese]  ―  ngo⁵ dei⁶ hou² fen¹ gaa³. [Jyutping]  ―  We are really close.

   • 實行用㗎文跟佢friend吓 [Cantonese, trad.]
     实行用㗎文跟佢friend吓 [Cantonese, simp.]

     From: 1985, 許冠傑, 《日本娃娃》

     sat⁶ hang⁴ jung⁶ gaa³ man^4-2 gan¹ keoi⁵ fen¹ haa² [Jyutping]

     Used a bit of Japanese to try and make friends with her

   • 「因為你哋五個好似好friend好開心噉喎。」 [Cantonese, trad.]
     “因为你哋五个好似好friend好开心噉㖞。” [Cantonese, simp.]

     From: 2011, TVB-J2, K-ON！！輕音少女 (K-On!!), season 2, episode 1

     “jan¹ wai⁴ nei⁵ dei⁶ ng⁵ go³ hou² ci⁵ hou² fen¹ hou² hoi¹ sam¹ gam² wo³.” [Jyutping]

     “It’s because you five seem so close and happy.”

   • 我叫奧古，和她識了很多年，算係好friend下。 [Cantonese, trad.]
     我叫奥古，和她识了很多年，算系好friend下。 [Cantonese, simp.]

     From: 2013, 董啟章 (Dung Kai-cheung), 《體育時期（劇場版）【上學期】》, page 124

     ngo⁵ giu³ ou³ gu², wo⁴ taa¹ sik¹ liu⁵ han² do¹ nin⁴, syun³ hai⁶ hou² fen¹ haa⁵. [Jyutping]

     My name is Ou Gu. I knew her for many years, so we are pretty close.

   • 我唔想我哋只係喺呢段時間Friend返，我想我哋變返以前咁，Friend到乜都傾，平時大家有啲咩都會搵大家講。 [Cantonese, trad.]
     我唔想我哋只系喺呢段时间Friend返，我想我哋变返以前咁，Friend到乜都倾，平时大家有啲咩都会揾大家讲。 [Cantonese, simp.]

     From: 2015, 少少肥 (pseudonym), 《自修室‧學界嘅蘭桂坊》, page 243

     ngo⁵ m⁴ soeng² ngo⁵ dei⁶ zi² hai⁶ hai² ni¹ dyun⁶ si⁴ gaan³ fen¹ faan¹, ngo⁵ soeng² ngo⁵ dei⁶ bin³ faan¹ ji⁵ cin⁴ gam², fen¹ dou³ mat¹ dou¹ king¹, ping⁴ si⁴ daai⁶ gaa¹ jau⁵ di¹ me¹ dou¹ wui⁵ wan² daai⁶ gaa¹ gong². [Jyutping]

     I don’t want us to just be close for this while. I want us to turn back into how we were before, when we were so close that we would chat about anything, when we would normally look for each other to talk if anything happens.

   • 不過始終大家都係細路，好快就friend咗，我個人好易相處，同香港人、印度人都相處到，所以其實讀咩學校都冇問題。 [Cantonese, trad.]
     不过始终大家都系细路，好快就friend咗，我个人好易相处，同香港人、印度人都相处到，所以其实读咩学校都冇问题。 [Cantonese, simp.]

     From: 2016, 喬寶寶, (Q Bobo), 《香港製造》, page 32

     bat¹ gwo³ ci² zung¹ daai⁶ gaa¹ dou¹ hai⁶ sai³ lou⁶, hou² faai³ zau⁶ fen¹ zo², ngo⁵ go³ jan⁴ hou² ji⁶ soeng¹ cyu², tung⁴ hoeng¹ gong² jan⁴, jan³ dou⁶ jan⁴ dou¹ soeng¹ cyu² dou^3-2, so² ji⁵ kei⁴ sat⁶ duk⁶ me¹ hok⁶ haau⁶ dou¹ mou⁵ man⁶ tai⁴. [Jyutping]

     But since everyone is a kid, we quickly became close. I easily get along with others, no matter if it’s with Hong Kongers or Indians, so it doesn’t matter which school I go to.

References[edit]

• English Loanwords in Hong Kong Cantonese

Middle English[edit]

Noun[edit]

friend

1. Alternative form of frend

Old English[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /fri͜yːnd/

Noun[edit]

frīend

1. dative singular of frēond
2. nominative and accusative plural of frēond

Spanish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From English friend.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɾend/ [ˈfɾẽn̪d̪]
• Rhymes: -end

Noun[edit]

friend m (plural friends)

1. (climbing) cam

Yola[edit]

Noun[edit]

friend

1. Alternative form of vriene

   • 1867, “VERSES IN ANSWER TO THE WEDDEEN O BALLYMORE”, in SONGS, ETC. IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, number 3:

     Mye thee friend ne’re waant welcome, nor straayart comfoort.

     May thy friend ne’er want welcome, nor the stranger comfort.

References[edit]

• Jacob Poole (1867), William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, page 100