German word

Freund

Pronunciation

IPA/fʁɔʏ̯nt/

Meaning

  • masculine nounfriend

Example

Ich treffe heute Abend meine Freunde.

I'm meeting my friends tonight.

Illustration for Freund (friend)

More examples

Ich habe gestern Abend einen Freund angerufen.

I called a friend yesterday evening.

Core concept

A familiar ally who stands alongside someone in everyday life, sometimes as a romantic partner.

Common phrases

  • ein Freund von mir

    a friend of mine

  • sich mit Freunden treffen

    meet up with friends

  • mit einem Freund sprechen

    speak to a friend

Similar words

Freundin: A female friend or close female companion.
Partner: A romantic partner, such as a lover or spouse.
Bekannter: Someone known personally but not closely.
Kollege: A person who works alongside someone.

Definition in German

Person, der man vertraut und mit der man regelmäßig Zeit verbringt.

Word origin

Freund comes from Old High German friunt and Proto-Germanic *frijōndz, a form related to the verb meaning 'to love'.

Usage tips

  • Mein Freund can mean either 'my male friend' or 'my boyfriend', so the intended relationship depends on context; mein fester Freund clearly indicates a boyfriend.

Other meanings

  • boyfriendnoun
  • companionnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word