Etymologically
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girlfriend

Etymology and origin of the English word girlfriend

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
1859
Ultimate origin
English (girl friend)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
English girl
English girlfriend

Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ˈɡɜːl.frend/, US /ˈɡɝːl.frend/[1]

Etymology

It is a compound from English girl + friend, also written girl-friend.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

A woman's female friend in youth: by 1859.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

As a man's sweetheart it is from 1922.[2] She-friend was used in the 17th century in the same senses, of a man's mistress and of a woman's close friend.[2]

Timeline

  • 1859 – a woman's female friend.[2][3]
  • 1922 – a man's sweetheart.[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A regular female companion in a romantic or sexual relationship; a sweetheart.
  2. A female friend.

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
Cite this entry

“Girlfriend.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/girlfriend. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·