befriend

[/bɪˈfrend/]
verb
fazer amizade com
1. to act as a friend to someone; to establish a friendly relationship with someone
She befriended the new student on her first day at school.
Ela fez amizade com a nova aluna no primeiro dia de aula.
2. to treat someone with kindness and support
The elderly man was befriended by the volunteer organization.
O homem idoso foi tratado com gentileza pela organização voluntária.
3. to become friendly with an animal
The child befriended the stray cat and gave it food.
A criança fez amizade com o gato vadio e lhe deu comida.
In both American and Brazilian cultures, 'befriend' is a somewhat formal or literary term used to describe the intentional act of forming a friendship. In informal speech, Americans typically say 'become friends with' or 'get to know,' while Brazilians naturally use 'fazer amizade com.' The term carries a sense of deliberate kindness and is often used in educational, volunteer, or narrative contexts to emphasize the positive impact of forming new relationships.
NYC Slang
vibe with / connect with (modern informal equivalent)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
make friends withally withtake under one's wingget to know
Antonyms / Antônimos
alienateestrangeshunavoid

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
fazer amizade com
most common and widely understood translation
General Brazilian
trabar amizade com
slightly more formal alternative
Portugal
fazer amizade com
same as Brazilian Portuguese
Portugal
estabelecer amizade com
more formal register

Related Words

friendfriendshipfriendlyamicablecompanionship

Related Idioms & Phrases

befriend someone for a reason (hidden motives)
befriend the enemy (unexpected alliance)
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