Girlfriend or womanfriend

how common is it for a straight woman of 40 or older to call her female friends "girlfriends" even if they are no longer girls? Would appreciate a serious answer

people actually call them womanfriends?

Girlfriends are *always* girlfriends, no matter what the age.

How about calling them friends?

"my bitches" is the PC solution.

this isn't in the services offered section? arse...

Think most Brits do just say friend, but I hear girlfriend a lot from Americans. Womanfriend I can only imagine in a sarcastic context - never heard anyone say that. Lesbians usually say partner in my experience.

I thought it was a ladyfriend?

Thought that was how slightly sleazy older men referred to their girlfriends?! Don't think I've ever heard a woman describe one of her female friends that way, though admittedly I'm well under 40.

No, thats when you bump into an older person you know who shouldn't be with said 'ladyfriend'

Or when your Mum and her pals are talking about some tart within earshot of children.

I saw on telly an american girl call her girlfriends "guys" as in "Hi guys!" instead of girls!
Does that mean they are trannies or something?

Yeah, ´girlfriend´in this context is definitely an American usage of the word; the Brits just use ´friend´, or if you need to differentiate between the sexes, then ´female friend´.

exactly!

none of this 'ladyfriend' or 'womenfriend' crap... ladyfriend is only used in the case of an older man, when he his wife has passed on and he meets someone new, then you call it 'ladyfriend'.

Ah! Nice!.. I like a happy ending.

It's very common (in my generation anyways mid-30s) to say "guys" to males and females, if there is at least one male present. I dunno, maybe it's a midwestern thing, since that is where I spent my formative teenage years.

It's not a midwestern thing. We do it in California, too. "Guys" is used as a group reference with no relation to the gender of the individuals of the group.

i'm complete midwest, but "guys" for me is just a group of people and is not gender specific.

the term "girlfriend" to me means a female that someone is dating. I know it's used to describe females that are friends, but i usually only hear older people use it (grandparents and people 60 or mid60's and up)

Sorry, I must be a little out of touch; when did 'Bird' fall into disuse?

About 1975.

HTH, HAND.

What would you say in German, Birkelede?

It's either "meine Freundin" or "eine Freundin von mir", right? The former implying lesbian tendancies, the latter implying a purer friendship.

Or are there other common acceptable alternatives?

hmmm, i don't think there is lesbian tendancy on meine Freundin and a purer friendship on the other. i would rather argue that when eine freundin von mir is used, you are more likely not to add the name where as meine freundin XXX, you would. no?

Oh, that must be why I get funny looks when I use "meine Freundin"!

I would use "meine Freundin" to imply close female friendship (not of the lesbian kind) and "meine Bekannte" for my female acquaintances. I'd guess a lesbian lover would be "meine Partnerin".

It is true, I could mention a female friend as "meine Freundin" but I would add the name to show I have more than one. Or even "eine Freundin" would do.

depends how old eh??

Meet my hagard old bint friend

In my experience "meine Freundin" can mean both platonic and non-platonic, depending on the context. I was on a date recently and the girl mentioned going out with "meiner Freund", did a double take and quickly changed it to "meiner Kumpel". Thanks to the finer points of the German language, I knew I was in

Even if a woman spoke at length about "meine Freundin", I don't think anyone would assume she was a lesbian, unless of course she had a flat-top and a moustache. As has already been said, the safe alternatives are "eine Freundin von mir" or just "eine Freundin". Or if you're talking about a guy friend you can also say "meiner Kumpel".

Or you were in but in a holding pattern. There hasn't really been a language developed yet to lend full expression to the finer points of the female mind.

No, I was definitely in

(What's a holding pattern?)

When there isn't a landing slot free yet.

due to another aircraft still being on the runway. From time to time you'll get clearance, only having to execute an emergency overshoot having realised that in fact there is a fucking huge 747 already on the runway just as you put your landing gear down.

Once again I have to thank you all very much. I teach English to adults and it was a course student (female) who asked me this question. But she could only do so because she is German and thinks German. You lucky people needn't worry! If I, 48, female, straight, say "I'm going to the cinema tonight with a friend." it could be anybody from the man I have always been after and hope to get into bed tonight because his wife has just left him to the girl who sat next to me in first grade! Whereas in German I always have to openly express myself. You can just leave so many things unsaid. I hope you are grateful.

That is why I love learning languages so much, because there is so much psychology behind them. I sometimes think this might be one of the reasons why working women have so many problems here. If in English a colleague tells you "The sales manager of the XXX company will call you back in an hour," you always have to be prepared for either a man or a woman, don't you? In German the colleague says "der Verkaufsleiter" or else "die Verkaufsleiterin", and everybody reacts differently. I certainly would love to find out how a native speaker sees this, but that would be a new topic, wouldn't it? Anyway i am happy I found this site. Thanks to you all out there!

Well I'm grateful for this thread, my lingering worry about appearing a Grade 1 Walter Mitty with a girl in every port is resolved.

The story seems to be ... steer clear of possessive adjectives and you're home free, but it probably wouldn't be misconstrued anyway

Colin XX