8 ways to say “friend” in Italian

Is there a universally accepted way to address friends across Italy?

Yes or no! While many words are standardized in the Italian vocabulary and can be used across regions, there are still some variations that may appear outdated, dialectical, or region-specific.

For example, the term Compareoriginal meaning godfather But now it is often used to express partner (USA) or companion (UK), more popular in southern areas. It might sound a little strange to use it in Milan or Venice.

if you encounter my neighbour In Veneto you hear a form of regional dialect that can be translated as old boys Italian means old sport or old friend in English.

Having said that, let's take a look at all the terms that are generally accepted and used in Italy:

Let’s be clear from the start: most of the time, especially among younger generations like Gen Z, slang is the go-to language among friends. Even the older generation tends to stick to local terminology that resonates with their cultural background. However, there are some terms that are universally accepted no matter where you are.

1. friend/friend

friend is a literal translation of 'friend' and can be used to address any non-relationship you are closely related to, optionally adding Honey (Honey), like Dear friends (Dear friends), which adds a touch of politeness. However, this expression is usually reserved for emails or letters.Another option is Honeyexpressing a similar meaning, but more heartfelt.

2. Brother/sister

The term translates to brother, its male form is commonly used in boys. female version, sister (sister)less common among girls and tend to be more informal.

although brother Although widely used, it did have some dialectical changes, particularly in southern Italy, especially Naples, where it transformed into brother even from.It is similar to informal use brother In English slang. Interestingly, brother It has become popular among young people to address their friends in Italian.

Furthermore, in Italy there has been a recent trend of Anglicizing many words. It's worth noting, however, that these adaptations weren't always well-received. Kruska Academy, the main Italian institution for linguistics and linguistics. Furthermore, these adaptations may differ from the meaning in the English vocabulary.

3. Socialize/Compare

society (literally)Subsidiary Body“) and Compare (literally)accomplice/godfather“) can be considered a somewhat generic term, but is more popular in the South. Term Social It has a certain connection with its commercial connotation Subsidiary Body, but in this context it extends into the realm of friendship. on the other hand, Compare The term is often used to describe long-term friendships, referring to friends who share important experiences or even business ventures.

4. old man

Also in this case, old boys (old partner/old friend) is used more or less throughout the country, but may be more popular in northern Italy.Here you encounter dialectical changes, e.g. vase (for example, found in Bologna and Vicenza) and old (More common in the Northeast, such as Venice).

5. Partners

partner (companion) is more closely related to the concept of couple in Italian – two people sharing the same living space are called companion. However, the term is also commonly used to refer to a friend or colleague/classmate. In the past, it had political significance for those who supported the communist wave in Italy. In contemporary usage, however, this political significance has been largely lost.

6. Head

The term is very city-centric and is mainly used in Milan and its provinces, but now it is spreading in the northern regions of Italy as well. It is a casual exclamation addressed to a friend or acquaintance, usually accompanied by a good-natured rebuke. Most commonly, it is used to summon friends, especially if they are acting a little silly or moody.

Slang used among Generation Z

The last part focuses on some terms adopted by the new generation that often confuse most Italians, at least for now. As language continues to evolve, the way young people communicate changes, and sometimes these words even merge into mainstream vocabulary.

Now, let’s dig into the language you might hear among Gen Z youth during this time in Italy.

7.I love us

It is a compound word derived from 'Amore'(like) and 'us'(us). Among young people, it is used to refer to a group of friends. When this word is used, they express love for people who belong to the same group, emphasizing the strong sense of belonging between them.

8. Pei

Another English word is Pei,”abbreviation of”before others”. It was created by the new generation to designate the importance of the people they addressed by this word. Essentially, to them, this person is the most important person in their life.

It’s clear that Italian is being shaped by English, influenced by social media, the music industry and globalization. Interestingly, unlike Spain, where entered words are transformed to create new Spanish terms, in Italy the words enter the dictionary unchanged but with slight changes to their original English meanings.