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
der Freund
boyfriend
The male partner in a romantic relationship.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat ihren Freund letztes Jahr im Urlaub kennengelernt.
She met her boyfriend last year on vacation.
der Freund
fan / supporter
A follower, enthusiast, or supporter of a particular thing or idea.
EXAMPLE
Er ist ein großer Freund der klassischen Musik.
He is a great fan of classical music.
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 Bruder
brother
For a very close male friend, „Freund“ is the neutral term. „Bruder“ can also fit, but in that case it signals especially strong informal connection or solidarity within a group. Use „Freund“ neutrally and „Bruder“ when deliberately emphasizing brotherhood and camaraderie.
Freund
Lukas ist ein guter Freund von mir, und wir helfen uns oft.
Lukas is a good friend of mine, and we often help each other.
Bruder
Im Team nennen wir Lukas unseren Bruder, weil wir immer zusammenhalten.
In the team, we call Lukas our brother because we always stick together.
In real life
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