girlfriend en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈɡɝlfɹɛnd/ (General-American)
- (US) audio
- /ˈɡɜːlfɹɛnd/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-West Germanic *gaurā Proto-West Germanic *-ilā Proto-West Germanic *gurilā Old English *gyrele? Middle English girle English girl Proto-Indo-European *preyH- Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *priHós Proto-Germanic *frijōną Proto-Germanic *frijōndz Proto-West Germanic *friund Old English frēond Middle English frend English friend English girlfriend From girl + friend.
Meanings
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A female partner in an unmarried romantic relationship.
Former Playboy Bunnies Holly Madison and Kendra Wilkinson, whose lives as Hugh Hefner’s girlfriends were featured in “The Girls Next Door” reality show, are feuding after Madison shared the claims of their less-than-glamorous life in the Playboy Mansion.
2015 June 24, Katia Hetter, “Former Playboy girlfriends Holly Madison and Kendra Wilkinson feud”, in CNN, archived from the original on 02 Aug 2016:A gentleman did not like his girl-friend to have to undergo so much unpleasant questioning.
1932, Dorothy L. Sayers, chapter XXXII, in Have His Carcase:Want to pick some flowers, doctor? When a man visits an old girlfriend she usually expects something like that.
1966, “The Man Trap”, in Star Trek: The Original Series, season 1, episode 1 (television production), spoken by Capt. James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Paramount Pictures:I was playing the acoustic guitar and my girlfriend was playing the drums.
Referring to someone as your boyfriend or girlfriend suggests several things about your relationship, said Leah Carey, a sex and relationship coach and podcast host of “Good Girls Talk About Sex.”
2024 October 24, Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, “More straight couples are calling each other partner. Here’s why”, in CNN, archived from the original on 10 Feb 2025:Marc went to the park with his girlfriend and watched the sunset with her.
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(dated) A female friend of a woman or girl.
Mary always enjoyed hanging out with her girlfriend Jessica.
That story should have applied to golf. I took it up in a casual way; a girl friend of my wife had stayed with us for a week-end and left her clubs behind.
1933, Frank Clune, Try Anything Once, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 189:My girl friend Deb told me she was sittin' up in the living room, her and Gary. And this Red O'Malley kid liked Gary at the time. She's—I'd say she was jealous, that's what I'd say she was. And she says, "Go on Gary, she's a whore. You can do whatever you want to her." […] An' I grabbed her by the hair, and I said, "If I ever hear you callin' any of my girlfriends a whore, you're gonna really find your ass all over the ground."
2012, William Labov, “3. Hidden Diversity”, in Dialect Diversity in America: The Politics of Language Change, Charlottesville; London: University of Virginia Press, →ISBN:[…] for the past 45 years, Neri had sat outside with her girlfriends Fotini and Eleni, two school friends who, having grown old in their company, Neri loved dearly.
2018, Shiv Kotecha, The Switch, United States: Wonder, →ISBN, page 135:She's a very special girl (The kind of girl you want to know) / From her head down to her toenails (Down to her feet, yeah) / And she'll wait for me at backstage with her girlfriends / In a limousine (Long and black and shining bright)
1981 August 14, Rick James, Alonzo Miller, “Super Freak”, in Street Songs, performed by Rick James, track 5:
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A fellow gay man, especially a friend as opposed to a sexual partner.
[Tim:] james huh? my lover carlos's best girlfriend is named james. [James:] yes, i know. i AM your lover carlos's best girlfriend james.
1994, Eric Orner, The Seven Deadly Sins of Love (reprinted in The Completely Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green (2015), p. 53)
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A term of address for a female friend or among gay men.
[Hanque:] girlfriend - how'r we doing? [Doug:] hi hanque, i'd like a capuccino and some lobster bisque.. [Caption:] (friendliness with the waitstaff is a good sign)
1994, Eric Orner, The Seven Deadly Sins of Love (reprinted in The Completely Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green (2015), p. 32)
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| girlfran | alternative | lexicographic | |
| girl-friend | alternative | lexicographic | |
| girlfriends | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| girl friend | alternative | lexicographic |
Coordinates
pal · buddy · wife · lover · lady friend · partner · sweetheart · theyfriend · fiancée · BFF · significant other · enbyfriend · friend · boyfriend
Deriveds
do you have a girlfriend · girlfriendly · friendgirl · nongirlfriend · girlfriendless · girlfriend experience · you kiss your girlfriend with that mouth · girlfriendhood · ex-girlfriend · trophy girlfriend · trophy boyfriend · girlfran · cybergirlfriend · girlfriendy · part-time girlfriend · girlfriendable · trophy partner · girlfriendish
Descendants
ガールフレンド · gelpren · گَرْل فِرین٘ڈ · கேர்ள்ஃப்ரெண்ட் · girlfriend · gèlfrènn · гёрлфренд · 女朋友 · гёрлфренд · गर्लफ़्रेंड · 걸프렌드
Synonyms
Translations (262)
be сябро́ўка (a female friend) · et tüdruksõber (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · se moarsi (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · te స్నేహితురాలు (a female friend) · he חֲבֵרָה (a female friend) · it amica (a female friend) · ru гёрлфренд (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · fr meuf (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · fi naisystävä (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sh dèvōjka (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · mn найз охин (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ru прия́тельница (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · eo koramikino (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ru избранница (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ko 여친 (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · wa crapåde (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ovd fjälla (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · fi tyttökaveri (a female friend) · uk подру́га (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · scn cummari (a female friend) · fo dama (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · my ရည်းစား (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · mk пријателка (a female friend) · ca nòvia (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ru гёрлфре́нд (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · tl kasintahang babae (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ru возлю́бленная (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · tpi gelpren (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · hi प्रेमिका (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · la amīca (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · es pai (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sh пријатѐљица (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · got 𐍆𐍂𐌹𐌾𐍉𐌽𐌳𐌹 (a female friend) · af nooi (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · it fidanzata (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · it ragazza (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · io amikino (a female friend) · uk при́ятелька (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · th เพื่อนสาว (a female friend) · fr copine (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · is vinkona (a female friend) · fr petite copine (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · fi ystävätär (a female friend) · id pacar (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · lt mylimóji (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · cs přítelkyně (a female friend) · sv tjej (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · eo amikino (a female friend) · ja ガールフレンド (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · es novia (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sh цу̏ра (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · fa-ira دوسْتدُخْتَر (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · scn zita (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · tr kız arkadaş (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sl punca (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · nb kjæreste (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · la amīca (a female friend) · sk priateľka (a female friend) · hu barátnő (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · de Freundin (a female friend) · bo དགའ་རོགས (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · nn venninne (a female friend) · sv tjejkompis (a female friend) · ia amica (a female friend) · ar حَبِيبَة (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · bg прия́телка (a female friend) · fy freondinne (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ka შეყვარებული გოგონა (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · rm marusa (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · fr partenaire (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · pl przyjaciółka (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · nl vriendin (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ur گَرْل فَرینْڈ (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · la amātrix (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ca amiga (a female friend) · ia amica (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ar صَاحِبَة (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ur گَرْل فِرینْڈ (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · lo ຜູ້ສາວ (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sh djèvōjka (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · bg прия́телка (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · hi महिला-मित्र (a female friend) · el κοπέλα (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · qu salla (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · lt draũgė (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · la amāns (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · th แฟน (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · nn veninne (a female friend) · ur سَکھی (a female friend) · ka გერლფრენდი (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ga girseach (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sh đèvōjka (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sh prijatèljica (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · eu neska-lagun (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · te ప్రియురాలు (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sh ђѐво̄јка (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · gl noiva (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sw shoga (a female friend) · pam ibug (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · gl moza (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · hi गर्लफ़्रेंड (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · tl nobya (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sw chuma (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · hi सहेली (a female friend) · ms teman perempuan (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ko 여자친구 (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sv kärasta (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · bg га́дже (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · wyi lerup (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · th แฟนสาว (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · pl przyjaciółka (a female friend) · he חברה לחיים (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · uk при́ятелька (a female friend) · fy freondinne (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ja 意中の女 (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · es jeva (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · he ידידה (a female friend) · lv draudzene (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · hak 女朋友 (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sv flickvän (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · af meisie (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · tg дӯстдухтар (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · fi tyttöystävä (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · lt pártnerė (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · id teman perempuan (a female friend) · ru подру́га (a female friend) · ur عاشِقَہ (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · fr chérie (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · pt namorada (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · xfa socia (a female friend) · he חֲבֵרָה (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · gd banacharaid (a female friend) · it donna (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · tg маъшуқа (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ja 付き合ってる人 (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · la puella (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · cmn 女朋友 (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · scn fimmina (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · lb Frëndin (a female friend) · be сябро́ўка (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sh дјѐво̄јка (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · bn বান্ধবী (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · mk пријателка (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sl prijateljica (a female friend) · sq dashnore (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · nn kjæraste (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sv väninna (a female friend) · sl prijateljica (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · io amoratino (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · et tüdruk (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ka მეგობარი გოგო (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · mr मैत्रीण (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · cmn 女性朋友 (a female friend) · cy cariadferch (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · hy ընկերուհի (a female friend) · es polola (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · hu barátnő (a female friend) · lt draũgė (a female friend) · el φιλενάδα (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ro prietenă (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · es flaca (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · nl meisje (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ru подру́га (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · nn kjærast (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · fy famke (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · fi tyttökaveri (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · cmn 對象 /对象 (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · be дзяўчы́на (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · tg рафиқа (a female friend) · cs přítelkyně (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · es amiga (a female friend) · ko 애인 (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · mk девојка (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · lb Frëndin (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · nb venninne (a female friend) · kl arnaat (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · uk коха́на (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ms kawan perempuan (a female friend) · ro amică (a female friend) · ms teman perempuan (a female friend) · ru прия́тельница (a female friend) · sq shoqe (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · hy ընկերուհի (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sh cȕra (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · vo jiflen (a female friend) · la amīcula (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ar صَدِيقَة (a female friend) · ur سَہیلی (a female friend) · nan-hbl 女朋友 (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · hu csaj (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · yue 條女 /条女 (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ru подру́жка (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sw mpenzi (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · es jerma (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · pl dziewczyna (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · fo unnusta (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · wo coro (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · cmn 朋友 (a female friend) · rsk дзивка (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ru де́вушка (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · el κορίτσι (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · fa دوستدختر (a female friend) · ka შეყვარებული (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · uk ді́вчина (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · yue 女朋友 (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sh пријатѐљица (a female friend) · wa mayon (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · tg маҳбуба (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · is kærasta (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · hi सखी (a female friend) · he בת־זוג לחיים (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · be падру́га (a female friend) · lt numylė́tinė (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ar صَدِيقَة (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · es geba (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · pam babaying kaluguran (a female friend) · nl vriendin (a female friend) · cy cariad (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · be каха́нка (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ja 女友達 (a female friend) · ja 彼女 (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · uk подру́га (a female friend) · pam tau (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · be пры́яцелька (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · tg дугона (a female friend) · sh prijatèljica (a female friend) · fy freondinne (a female friend) · lt merginà (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · da kæreste (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ka მეგობარი ქალი (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · fr petite amie (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ko 걸프렌드 (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · be пры́яцелька (a female friend) · pt amiga (a female friend) · sl dekle (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sh дѐво̄јка (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · km មិត្តស្រី (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ko 여사친 (a female friend) · gl amiga (a female friend) · be падру́га (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · fr blonde (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · cs holka (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · hi अली (a female friend) · fr femme (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · tpw kunhã'yba (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · sk priateľka (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · lv draudzene (a female friend) · fy faam (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · fr nana (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · pl sympatia (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ka შეყვარებული გოგო (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · fr compagne (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ce тӏехьийза йоӏ (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · de Girlfriend (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · scn picciotta (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ga cailín (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · vi người yêu (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ka მეგობარი გოგონა (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · ca xicota (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · vi bạn gái (a female partner in a romantic relationship) · it amica del cuore (a female friend) · da veninde (a female friend)