Dictionary / My friend
How to Say "My friend" in French
Un ami à moi
/œ̃.n‿a.mi a mwa/
Literally: A friend of mine
Un
a
ami
friend
à moi
of mine
Formal and plural
Formal or pluralUne amie à moi (feminine)
Un ami à moi is the safe neutral choice when you are introducing or referring to someone. Mon ami is not wrong, but in the singular it can read as my partner depending on tone and context, so most French speakers reach for a friend of mine instead. In the plural, mes amis and mes copains are both entirely ordinary and carry no romantic reading.
Correct
Un ami à moi
What people say wrong
Mon copain
my boyfriend
The mistake to avoid. Mon copain and ma copine mean my boyfriend and my girlfriend to most adult speakers. English speakers pick copain up from a textbook glossary that translates it as friend, then use it to describe a colleague, and accidentally announce a relationship. The plural is safe, since mes copains is just my mates, but the singular is not. Say un ami à moi, or simply use the person's name.
In context
C'est un ami à moi, on travaille ensemble.
He's a friend of mine, we work together.
Je pars en vacances avec des amis.
I'm going on holiday with friends.
Elle est venue avec son copain.
She came with her boyfriend.