copain

French[edit]

Inherited from Old French compaing, compain, from Late Latin compāniō (nominative form) (compare also Italian compagno), from com- +‎ pānis, literally “with-bread”, a word first attested in the Frankish Lex Salica as a translation of a Germanic word, probably Frankish *galaibo, *gahlaibo (“messmate”, literally “with-bread”), from *hlaib (“loaf, bread”). See also compagnon, from the accusative form of the same Late Latin term (compāniōnem), whence English companion. The sense of 'boyfriend' is by ellipsis of petit copain.

copain m (plural copains, feminine copine)

(male) friend, chum, mate (UK), pal, buddy
Synonym: ami
- 2019, Christine Genet & Estelle Wallon, Psychothérapie de l'attachement
  […] [On] a quatre façons de se comporter quand on est stressé ou inquiet. […] La deuxième façon est de se débrouiller tout seul. On ne dit pas ou pas beaucoup ce dont on a besoin, on ne montre pas trop ce qu’on ressent aux gens qui pourraient nous aider. […] C’est parfois difficile de calmer ses colères, de trouver une solution aux problèmes avec les parents, les copains.
  There are four ways in which people behave when they are stressed or worried. […] The second way is to try to manage on one's own; to say nothing, or very little, about what one needs, and not to show much of what one is feeling to the people who could help. […] It is sometimes difficult to subdue one's anger and find a solution to problems with parents and friends.
  
  Lorsque les copains se retrouvaient au café du coin, pour boire une bière, taquiner le flipper ou le baby-foot, il n’était accepté que parce qu’il régalait.
  When the friends met up in the local café, to drink a beer and have a go on the pinball machine, or a game of table football, he was only tolerated because he was paying.
(informal, by ellipsis) Ellipsis of petit copain.: boyfriend (boy/man to whom one has a romantic attachment)
Synonyms: petit ami, ami