girlfriend

Everyday

1. A girlfriend is a girl or woman that someone is in a romantic relationship with. tree →
2. A girlfriend can also be a female friend, often said by women about their friends, especially in the USA. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life teenagers and adults talk about their girlfriend; in stories a character may «have a girlfriend». Among women, «my girlfriends» can just mean close female friends. Phrases: his girlfriend, her girlfriend, my girlfriend, ex-girlfriend.

Examples

• My big brother is taking his girlfriend to the cinema. tree →
• Uncle Jack brought his girlfriend to the barbecue. tree →
• Mum went out for dinner with her girlfriends. (US) tree →
• They have been girlfriend and boyfriend for two years. tree →
• His ex-girlfriend moved to Canada. tree →
• Aunt Sarah and her girlfriend live by the sea. tree →

Note

Countable noun, written as one word. The male pair is «boyfriend». «Ex-girlfriend» is a former one. A girl who is just a friend is usually called «a friend», not «my girlfriend», unless she is a woman talking about friends.