girlfriend
C1 (Very High Frequency)Informal, but broadly acceptable in general conversation and some semi-formal contexts. The 'close female friend' sense is strongly informal/colloquial.
Definition
Meaning
A woman or girl with whom someone has a romantic or sexual relationship.
A close female friend, particularly in the context of long-term friendship, especially among women. A female companion.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can denote both a committed romantic/sexual partner and a platonic female friend. Context is crucial to distinguish meaning. The romantic sense is primary; the platonic sense is often marked by phrases like "just a girlfriend" or "one of my girlfriends".
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, the plural "girlfriends" for platonic female friends is common. In American English, the singular "girlfriend" for a romantic partner is more dominant; "girlfriends" for platonic friends is also used but sometimes clarified as "my friends who are girls" or "female friends" to avoid ambiguity.
Connotations
UK: More readily used in platonic contexts among women. US: Stronger default association with a romantic partner.
Frequency
High frequency in both varieties. The romantic sense is slightly more frequent in AmE data; the platonic sense is slightly more frequent in BrE data.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have a girlfriendbe someone's girlfriendmeet one's girlfriendbreak up with one's girlfriendgo out with one's girlfriendVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Just good friends (euphemism denying romantic involvement)”
- “On-again, off-again girlfriend”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Highly inappropriate in professional descriptions (e.g., 'my girlfriend in the finance department'). Use 'colleague' or 'associate'.
Academic
Rare, except in sociological or psychological studies on relationships.
Everyday
Extremely common for referring to a romantic partner or close female friend.
Technical
Not used in technical registers.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable as an adjective.
American English
- Not applicable as an adjective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have a new girlfriend. Her name is Anna.
- She is my best girlfriend. We play football together.
- My girlfriend and I are going to the cinema tonight.
- He broke up with his girlfriend last week.
- They've been girlfriend and boyfriend since university.
- I'm meeting up with a few girlfriends for a coffee and a catch-up.
- His long-term girlfriend moved in with him last month.
- The platonic use of 'girlfriends' is more entrenched in British than American English.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word 'girl' + 'friend'. The primary meaning combines them: a friend who is a girl in a romantic sense.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELATIONSHIP IS A JOURNEY ('They've been girlfriend and boyfriend for years'), POSSESSION ('He has a new girlfriend').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'подруга' as 'girlfriend' in professional contexts, as it implies romance. Use 'female friend' or simply 'friend'.
- Do not use 'girlfriend' to translate 'девушка' when referring to an unknown young woman; use 'young woman' or 'girl'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'girlfriend' to refer to any female friend in international contexts where the romantic sense is assumed.
- Overusing the possessive 'my girlfriend' in formal introductions where 'partner' is more appropriate.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'girlfriend' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, especially among women and particularly in British English, but it can cause ambiguity. Clarifying phrases like 'just a friend' are often used.
In the platonic sense among peers, it is generally not offensive (e.g., 'I'm having lunch with my girlfriends'). In the romantic sense, 'girlfriend' is standard for adults of any age, though some prefer 'partner'.
The direct male equivalent in the romantic sense is 'boyfriend'. For the platonic sense, men typically use 'friend', 'mate' (BrE), or 'buddy' (AmE), not 'boyfriend'.
Context is key. Romantic: usually singular, with a possessive pronoun ('his girlfriend'), and discussed in the context of dates or romance. Platonic: often plural ('my girlfriends'), or clarified by context (e.g., 'we've been girlfriends since school').
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