01
der Freund
friend
A male person with whom you have a close, non-romantic relationship.
example
Ich gehe heute Abend mit ein paar Freunden ins Kino.
I'm going to the movies with a few friends this evening.
der Freund
friend / boyfriend
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Meanings
01 / 03
Usage tips
Friend or partner?
The distinction between a platonic friend (m01) and a steady partner (m02) is often not immediately clear in German. 'Mein Freund' (my friend/my boyfriend) can mean both, but it is often used for the partner. 'Ein Freund von mir' (a friend of mine) is safer for describing a non-romantic relationship.
EXAMPLE
Ein Freund von mir hat mir beim Umzug geholfen.
A friend of mine helped me move.
Word family
The word 'Freund' (friend) is the basis for other important words. These include 'die Freundschaft' (friendship; the relationship between friends) and the adjective 'freundlich' (friendly; nice and open).
EXAMPLE
Unsere Freundschaft ist mir sehr wichtig.
Our friendship is very important to me.
Typical collocations
When making new social contacts, the phrase 'Freunde finden' (to make/find friends) is often used. Another common combination is 'gute Freunde sein' (to be good friends).
EXAMPLE
In einer neuen Stadt ist es oft nicht leicht, neue Freunde zu finden.
In a new city, it is often not easy to make new friends.
Use with genitive
In the meaning of 'Liebhaber einer Sache' (enthusiast of something), 'Freund' (friend/fan) often appears with a noun in the genitive or with the preposition 'von' (of). This construction expresses strong affection or great interest.
EXAMPLE
Mein Vater ist ein Freund guter Weine.
My father is a lover of good wines.
Compare with
Freund vs Mann
man
'der Mann' and 'der Freund' can both talk about a male person, but they do not say the same thing. 'Mann' generally describes an adult male person or, with a possessive word, the husband or steady partner. 'Freund' describes a personal relationship: either a good male friend or the male partner in a romantic relationship. The words can be confused because 'mein Mann' and 'mein Freund' can both mean a partner. But 'mein Mann' suggests a marriage or a very steady partnership, while 'mein Freund' suggests a relationship without marriage or a friendship, depending on the context.
Freund
Im Urlaub hat Max seinen besten Freund aus der Schule besucht.
On vacation, Max visited his best friend from school.
Mann
Die Ärztin hat den Mann heute im Wartezimmer aufgerufen.
The doctor called the man in the waiting room today.
In real life
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