copain
French
Etymology
From Old French compaing, compain, from Late Latin compāniō (nominative form) (compare also Italian compagno), from com- + pānis, literally “with-bread”, a word first attested in the Frankish Lex Salica as a translation of a Germanic word, probably Frankish *galaibo, *gahlaibo (“messmate”, literally “with-bread”), from *hlaib (“loaf, bread”). See also compagnon, from the accusative form of the same Late Latin term (compāniōnem), whence English companion. The sense of 'boyfriend' is by ellipsis of petit copain.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /kɔ.pɛ̃/
Audio (file) Audio (Switzerland) (file)
Noun
copain m (plural copains, feminine copine)
- (male) friend, chum, mate (UK), pal, buddy
- Synonym: ami
- 2019, Christine Genet & Estelle Wallon, Psychothérapie de l'attachement
- […] [On] a quatre façons de se comporter quand on est stressé ou inquiet. […] La deuxième façon est de se débrouiller tout seul. On ne dit pas ou pas beaucoup ce dont on a besoin, on ne montre pas trop ce qu'on ressent aux gens qui pourraient nous aider. […] C'est parfois difficile de calmer ses colères, de trouver une solution aux problèmes avec les parents, les copains.
- (please add an English translation of this quote)
- Lorsque les copains se retrouvaient au café du coin, pour boire une bière, taquiner le flipper ou le baby-foot, il n'était accepté que parce qu'il régalait.
- When the mates met up in the café at the corner, to drink a beer, have a go at the pinball machine or the football table, he was only tolerated because he treated them.
- (informal, by ellipsis) Ellipsis of petit copain.: boyfriend (boy/man to whom one has a romantic attachment)
- Synonyms: petit ami, ami
Derived terms
- copains comme cochons
- petit copain
Related terms
- compagnon
See also
- copine
Further reading
- “copain”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Anagrams
- pionça, ponçai