pote

/pɔt/
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A friend treated with easy familiarity, often as part of the same social circle.

Examples

  • On est devenus potes pendant le voyage.
    We became friends during the trip.
  • Je retrouve mes potes après le travail.
    I am meeting my mates after work.
  • Il a invité un pote à dormir chez lui.
    He invited a friend to sleep at his place.
  • Lina est ma meilleure pote depuis le lycée.
    Lina has been my best friend since high school.
  • Dans son courriel professionnel, elle a remplacé potes par collègues.
    In her professional email, she replaced mates with colleagues.

Similar words

copain
compagnon
connaissance
intime
ami
camarade

Meanings

Informal friend or mate

noun
relationships
informal
A familiar word for a friend, companion, or friendly acquaintance, common in relaxed speech but usually too casual for formal contexts.

Examples

  • Je retrouve mes potes après le travail.
    I am meeting my mates after work.
  • Lina est ma meilleure pote depuis le lycée.
    Lina has been my best friend since high school.
  • Il a invité un pote à dormir chez lui.
    He invited a friend to sleep at his place.
  • On est devenus potes pendant le voyage.
    We became friends during the trip.
  • Dans son courriel professionnel, elle a remplacé potes par collègues.
    In her professional email, she replaced mates with colleagues.

Similar words

Etymology

First recorded in this sense at the end of the 19th century, pote is a shortened form of the argot word poteau, meaning a friend or comrade.

FAQ

What does pote mean?

Pote is an informal French word for a friend, mate, or buddy.

Can pote refer to a woman?

Yes. Pote has the same form for any gender, as in un pote or une pote.

Is pote formal French?

No. Pote is common in relaxed speech, while ami, amie, or a more precise relationship word suits formal writing better.

What does mes potes mean?

Mes potes means my friends or my mates.

How do you pronounce pote?

Pote is pronounced /pɔt/, with the final t clearly heard.

Where does pote come from?

Pote is a late 19th-century shortening of the argot word poteau, which meant friend or comrade.

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