French · People & Family
"Girlfriend" in French: copine / petite amie
la copine / la petite amie
Girlfriend in French is la copine or la petite amie. Ma copine is the casual everyday label; ma petite amie makes the romantic sense clearer.
Intro
Je te présente ma copine, Inès.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce copine / petite amie
Say it
ko-PEEN / puh-TEET ah-MEE
/kɔ.pin/ /pə.tit.a.mi/
Copine is ko-PEEN. Petite amie is puh-TEET ah-MEE. Soft final n feel in copine.
"Girlfriend" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la copine | the girlfriend / the female friend Casual; context marks romance. | Casual; context marks romance. |
| la petite amie | the girlfriend Clear romantic sense. | Clear romantic sense. |
| ma copine | my girlfriend Very common. | Very common. |
| ma petite amie | my girlfriend Slightly clearer. | Slightly clearer. |
How to use copine / petite amie in real life
- 1Intro
Je te présente ma copine, Inès.
I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Inès.
Ma copine.
- 2Travel
Ma petite amie et moi partons tôt.
My girlfriend and I are leaving early.
Petite amie.
- 3Question
Ta copine vient à la fête ?
Is your girlfriend coming to the party?
Ta copine.
Mistakes English speakers make with copine / petite amie
Incorrect: Ma girlfriend.
Correct: Ma copine. / Ma petite amie.
Use copine or petite amie.
Incorrect: Mon copine.
Correct: Ma copine.
Copine is feminine: ma.
Good to know
Same caveat as copain: copine can be a close friend. Petite amie leans romantic. Listen for tone and possessives.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing a film
ChatPal
Ta copine préfère quoi comme film ?
What kind of film does your girlfriend prefer?
You
Ma petite amie aime les comédies.
My girlfriend likes comedies.
ChatPal
Parfait. Il reste des places.
Perfect. There are still seats.
You
Je lui envoie l'heure.
I'll text her the time.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Girlfriend" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Girlfriend" in French
How do you say girlfriend in French?
La copine or la petite amie.
Which should I use?
Ma copine is extremely common; petite amie is clearer.
Can copine mean friend?
Yes — context decides.
How do you pronounce copine?
Ko-PEEN.
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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