Substitution for ‘partenaire’ and ‘vos proches’

Alan M.C1Kwiziq community member

Substitution for ‘partenaire’ and ‘vos proches’

Does ‘copine/copain’ suggest a less serious relationship than partenaire  and does ‘êtres chers’ work for loved ones? Thanks

Asked 2 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Alan,

Just to add to what has already been said :

copain/copine = friend 

compagnon /compagne = partner 

I hear this a lot to describe someone you live with but are not legally married to.

https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/compagne/17595

partenaire = partner

-  see the accompanying page as it can be a host of things!

https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/partenaire/58352

 

petit/e ami/e = boy/girlfriend

Un être cher  = a being who is dear to you ( être here is a noun not the verb

In the text one of the accepted answers was -

... appréciation aux êtres qui vous sont chers

Hope this helps!

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Copine/copain -- buddy, friend, pal, mate, etc. It doesn't normally have a romantic meaning.
Partenaire -- partner. This is very similar in meaning to it's English version. Depending on context, it can be modified to be more specific, e.g., partenaire de danse, partenaire commercial, etc.

Être cher -- to be dear.
Elle m'est chère. -- She is dear to me.

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Just to add to Chris's comment   --  an elderly French gentleman once introduced his wife to me as his copine. This was in the Midi, south of Toulouse so maybe there are regional differences in usage?

Bonne Journée.

Jim

Substitution for ‘partenaire’ and ‘vos proches’

Does ‘copine/copain’ suggest a less serious relationship than partenaire  and does ‘êtres chers’ work for loved ones? Thanks

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