French for Describing Friendships: Expressing Value and Chosen Bonds
Learn elementary French phrases to describe friends, express their importance, and talk about long friendships, focusing on chosen bonds.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In this lesson, you will learn how to talk about friends in French, focusing on qualities like reliability and the value of long-term friendships. Unlike family, which is given, friendships are chosen, and French has specific ways to express this. We will cover key phrases such as 'She's always there for me' and 'We've been friends for years,' and you'll practice using them in conversation. By the end, you'll be able to describe your friends and express why they matter to you.
By the end, you can…
- describe a friend's supportive qualities using phrases like 'Elle est toujours là pour moi.'
- express the duration of a friendship using 'On est amis depuis...'
- talk about the value of a friendship using 'Je tiens à...'
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Elle est toujours là pour moi.
She's always there for me.
el ay too-zhoor la poor mwah
Use this to describe a female friend who is reliable and supportive. For a male friend, say 'Il est toujours là pour moi.'
On est amis depuis des années.
We've been friends for years.
on ay ta-mee duh-pwee day zay-nay
This expresses a long-lasting friendship. 'On' is informal for 'we'. For a more formal tone, use 'Nous sommes amis depuis des années.'
Je tiens beaucoup à elle.
I care a lot about her.
zhuh tyan bo-koo ah el
Use 'tenir à' to express that someone is important to you. For a male friend, say 'Je tiens beaucoup à lui.'
C'est un ami fidèle.
He's a loyal friend.
say tun na-mee fee-del
Describes a male friend who is loyal. For a female friend, say 'C'est une amie fidèle.'
On se connaît depuis le lycée.
We've known each other since high school.
on suh ko-nay duh-pwee luh lee-say
Use this to specify when a friendship began. 'Le lycée' is high school in France; in Quebec, 'le cégep' is college, and 'l'école secondaire' is high school.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To express how long you've been friends, use 'On est amis depuis...' followed by a time expression. For example, 'On est amis depuis dix ans.' (We've been friends for ten years.) or 'On est amis depuis le collège.' (We've been friends since middle school.) Note that 'depuis' is used with the present tense in French, unlike English which uses the present perfect. Also, to describe a friend's qualities, use 'être' + adjective: 'Elle est gentille.' (She is kind.) or 'Il est drôle.' (He is funny.) Remember to match the adjective to the gender of the friend: 'un ami fidèle' (loyal male friend) vs. 'une amie fidèle' (loyal female friend).
When to use it
Use these phrases when talking about your friendships in casual conversations. For example, when someone asks about your best friend, you can say 'C'est une amie géniale. Elle est toujours là pour moi.' (She's a great friend. She's always there for me.) If you want to emphasize the length of your friendship, say 'On se connaît depuis longtemps.' (We've known each other for a long time.) To express that you value a friend, use 'Je tiens à lui/elle.' (I care about him/her.) This is stronger than just liking someone. Avoid using 'Je l'aime' for friends, as it can imply romantic love; use 'Je tiens à' or 'J'apprécie' instead.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Tu connais Marie depuis longtemps ?
Have you known Marie for a long time?tew ko-nay ma-ree duh-pwee lon-tanOui, on est amies depuis le lycée. Elle est toujours là pour moi.
Yes, we've been friends since high school. She's always there for me.wee, on ay ta-mee duh-pwee luh lee-say. el ay too-zhoor la poor mwahC'est une amie fidèle, alors.
She's a loyal friend, then.say tewn na-mee fee-del, ah-lorOui, je tiens beaucoup à elle.
Yes, I care a lot about her.wee, zhuh tyan bo-koo ah elA little context goes a long way
In French-speaking cultures, friendships are often expressed with warmth but may be more reserved than in some other cultures. Using 'tu' (informal you) with friends is standard, while 'vous' is for formal relationships. The phrase 'Je t'aime bien' means 'I like you' in a friendly way, but 'Je t'aime' is reserved for romantic love or very close family. Be mindful of this distinction to avoid misunderstandings. In Quebec, 'chum' can mean a close friend or boyfriend, depending on context, so listen for cues.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Je l'aime' to mean 'I like him/her' as a friend.
Try this instead: 'Je l'aime' often implies romantic love. To express platonic affection, say 'Je l'apprécie' (I appreciate him/her) or 'Je tiens à lui/elle' (I care about him/her). For example, 'C'est un bon ami, je tiens à lui.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'We've been friends for five years' in French?
Show a sample answer
On est amis depuis cinq ans.
This uses 'On est amis depuis' + duration. 'Nous sommes amis depuis cinq ans' is also correct but more formal.
2Translate: 'He's always there for me.'
Show a sample answer
Il est toujours là pour moi.
This uses 'Il est' for a male friend. For a female friend, it would be 'Elle est toujours là pour moi.'
3What phrase would you use to say you care a lot about a female friend?
Show a sample answer
Je tiens beaucoup à elle.
This correctly uses 'tenir à' + stress pronoun 'elle'. For a male friend, it would be 'Je tiens beaucoup à lui.'
Use 'On est amis depuis...' to talk about how long you've been friends, and 'Je tiens à...' to express that a friend is important to you. Remember to match adjectives and pronouns to your friend's gender.
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