French · People & Family
"Boyfriend" in French: copain / petit ami
le copain / le petit ami
Boyfriend in French is le copain or le petit ami. Mon copain is the everyday casual label; mon petit ami sounds a bit more explicit about romance.
Introducing him
Voici mon copain, Hugo.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce copain / petit ami
Say it
ko-PAN / puh-TEE ah-MEE
/kɔ.pɛ̃/ /pə.ti.a.mi/
Copain is ko-PAN (nasal in). Petit ami is puh-TEE ah-MEE. Soft final n in copain.
"Boyfriend" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le copain | the boyfriend / the buddy Casual; context marks romance vs friend. | Casual; context marks romance vs friend. |
| le petit ami | the boyfriend Clear romantic sense. | Clear romantic sense. |
| mon copain | my boyfriend Very common intro. | Very common intro. |
| mon petit ami | my boyfriend Slightly clearer / softer. | Slightly clearer / softer. |
How to use copain / petit ami in real life
- 1Introducing him
Voici mon copain, Hugo.
This is my boyfriend, Hugo.
Mon copain.
- 2Plans
Mon petit ami vient me chercher.
My boyfriend is picking me up.
Petit ami.
- 3Chat with a friend
Ton copain travaille où ?
Where does your boyfriend work?
Ton copain.
Mistakes English speakers make with copain / petit ami
Incorrect: Mon boyfriend.
Correct: Mon copain. / Mon petit ami.
Use copain or petit ami.
Incorrect: Ma copain.
Correct: Mon copain.
Copain is masculine: mon.
Good to know
Copain / copine can mean close friend; petit ami / petite amie push the dating meaning. Tone and context usually sort it out.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Weekend plans
ChatPal
Ton copain vient au cinéma ?
Is your boyfriend coming to the cinema?
You
Oui, mon petit ami adore les films d'action.
Yes, my boyfriend loves action films.
ChatPal
Super. Je réserve quatre places.
Great. I'll book four seats.
You
Merci. On apporte des bonbons.
Thanks. We'll bring candy.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Boyfriend" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Boyfriend" in French
How do you say boyfriend in French?
Le copain or le petit ami.
Which is more common?
Mon copain is extremely common in speech.
Can copain mean friend?
Yes — context tells romantic vs buddy.
How do you pronounce copain?
Ko-PAN (nasal).
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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