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"girlfriend" in seven languages

Meaninggirlfriend

Spanish

novia

/ˈnobja/

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

Also fiancée and bride.

French

petite amie

/pətit ami/

fem.other source · petite 'little' + amie (Latin AMĪCAM)

Casually: ma copine, ma meuf.

Italian

fidanzata

/fidanˈtsata/

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

Casually: la mia ragazza.

Portuguese

namorada

/namoˈɾadɐ/

fem.other source · namorar 'to court', from em + amor (Latin AMŌREM 'love')

Romanian

prietenă

/ˈprjetenə/

fem.other source · prieten 'friend', from Old Church Slavonic prijatelĭ

Catalan

xicota

/ʃiˈkɔtə/

fem.other source · xicot 'lad', from xic 'small' (of uncertain origin)

Nòvia is heard too, but properly means fiancée or bride.

English

girlfriend

/ˈɡɝlfɹɛnd/

native English · English girl + friend

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

The story

The mirror of boyfriend: Spanish novia runs from girlfriend to bride, Italian fidanzata is the one pledged in trust, and French simply says 'little friend'.

English relatives: novice (es); fiancée, fidelity (it); amicable (fr)

Learn it

Practice the People deckQuiz a friend on it

In a sentence

  • esHe quedado con mi novia a las ocho.
  • frJe retrouve ma petite amie à huit heures.
  • itVedo la mia fidanzata alle otto.
  • ptVou encontrar minha namorada às oito.
  • roMă văd cu prietena mea la opt.
  • caHe quedat amb la meva xicota a les vuit.
  • enI'm meeting my girlfriend at eight.

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