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"boyfriend" in seven languages

Meaningboyfriend

Spanish

novio

/ˈnobjo/

masc.other source · Vulgar Latin *NOVIUM, from NOVUS 'new'

Also fiancé and bridegroom; novia is girlfriend, fiancée and bride.

French

petit ami

/pətit ami/

masc.other source · petit 'little' + ami (Latin AMĪCUM)

Casually: mon copain, mon mec.

Italian

fidanzato

/fidanˈtsato/

masc.other source · Italian fidanza 'trust', from Latin FĪDĀRE

Portuguese

namorado

/namoˈɾadu/

masc.other source · Portuguese namorar 'to court', from enamorar (Latin IN + AMŌREM)

Romanian

iubit

/juˈbit/

masc.other source · Romanian iubi 'to love', from Old Church Slavonic ljubiti

Prieten 'friend' is just as common for a boyfriend.

Catalan

xicot

/ʃiˈkɔt/

masc.other source · Catalan xic 'small; lad' (probably Latin CICCUM 'a trifle')

English

boyfriend

/ˈbɔɪfɹɛnd/

native English · English boy + friend

English → ItalianboyfriendfidanzatoNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: novice (es); fiancé, fidelity (it).What English and Italian share

The story

Spanish novio stretches from boyfriend to bridegroom — originally the 'new' husband (NOVUS). Italian fidanzato is the one pledged in trust (same root as fidelity); French just says 'little friend'.

English relatives: novice (es); fiancé, fidelity (it)

Learn it

Practice the People deckQuiz a friend on it

In a sentence

  • esSu novio vive en Lyon.
  • frSon petit ami habite à Lyon.
  • itIl suo fidanzato vive a Lione.
  • ptO namorado dela mora em Lyon.
  • roIubitul ei locuiește la Lyon.
  • caEl seu xicot viu a Lió.
  • enHer boyfriend lives in Lyon.

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