Freundschaft schließen

You use Freundschaft schließen when you want to talk about the beginning of a friendship. It’s perfect for describing how you met someone and how that relationship evolved into a friendship. You can use it when you’re talking about yourself or about other people. It fits naturally in conversations about social life, meeting new people, or reflecting on past relationships. It’s a common and well-understood phrase in German. You won't sound awkward using it; in fact, you'll sound quite natural! It’s like saying 'we hit it off' but with a slightly more formal, yet warm, touch. Imagine you met someone at a language exchange meetup, and you really hit it off. You might later tell a friend, 'Ich habe dort eine neue Freundschaft geschlossen!' (I made a new friend there!). See? Simple and effective.

• At a new job, you might say: 'Meine Kollegen sind sehr nett; ich habe schnell Freundschaft geschlossen.' (My colleagues are very nice; I quickly made friends.)
• On a dating app (maybe not the *most* common, but possible!): 'Wir haben uns online kennengelernt und eine Freundschaft geschlossen, bevor wir uns trafen.' (We met online and formed a friendship before we met.)
• In a travel vlog: 'Ich war auf Bali und habe dort eine tolle Freundschaft geschlossen mit einem Surfer.' (I was in Bali and made a great friendship there with a surfer.)
• Discussing a past event: 'Auf dem Festival habe ich viele interessante Leute getroffen und eine Freundschaft geschlossen.' (At the festival, I met many interesting people and made a friendship.)
• Reflecting on childhood: 'Wir haben als Kinder Freundschaft geschlossen und sind immer noch beste Freunde.' (We became friends as children and are still best friends.)

You should use Freundschaft schließen when you are talking about the process of *forming* a friendship. It specifically highlights the beginning of that bond. It works best when you want to emphasize that a new friendship has been established. Think about situations where you meet someone new and develop a genuine connection. Maybe you met someone through a shared hobby, a mutual friend, or even online. If that connection grows into a real friendship, this phrase fits perfectly. It’s also great when you’re reminiscing about how you met your current friends. It's a positive phrase, so use it when you feel good about the connection being made. It’s like planting a little seed of connection and watching it grow!

Avoid using Freundschaft schließen when you're just talking about being generally friendly or polite. It's not for casual greetings like 'Hallo!' or 'Guten Tag.' It’s also not appropriate for professional relationships where you maintain a formal distance, like with your boss or a client you barely know. Don't use it if you're just acquaintances or colleagues who don't have a deeper personal bond. For example, you wouldn't say you Freundschaft schließen with the cashier at the supermarket, even if they're always cheerful. That's just good customer service! Also, it's not for romantic relationships; while friendships can *lead* to romance, the phrase itself specifically denotes friendship. So, no using this for your first date, unless you're *very* clear you're just looking for a buddy! 😉

The biggest trap is using the wrong verb. Germans often get confused with verbs like machen (to make) or haben (to have). While you *have* a friendship (eine Freundschaft haben), you don't typically *make* one with machen in this specific idiomatic sense. Another mistake is using it for existing friendships. This phrase is about the *start* of a friendship. You wouldn't say 'Ich schließe Freundschaft mit dir' if you've been friends for years – it sounds like you're trying to initiate a friendship *now*. Also, be careful not to confuse it with romantic advances!

• sich anfreunden mit (jemandem): This is a very close synonym, meaning 'to become friends with someone.' It's perhaps a bit more common in everyday spoken German and feels slightly more casual. 'Ich habe mich mit meiner neuen Nachbarin angefreundet.' (I've become friends with my new neighbor.) It focuses on the *process* of becoming friends.
• jemanden kennenlernen: This just means 'to meet someone' or 'to get to know someone.' It's the very first step, *before* you can Freundschaft schließen.
• eine Beziehung aufbauen: This means 'to build a relationship.' It's broader and can apply to friendships, professional relationships, or even romantic ones. It's less specific than Freundschaft schließen.
• guten Kontakt haben: 'To have good contact.' This implies a positive relationship but not necessarily a deep friendship.

• eine Freundschaft schließen mit jemandem: This is the most complete form, explicitly stating *who* you are becoming friends with. Example: 'Ich habe mit meinem neuen Kollegen eine Freundschaft geschlossen.' (I made friends with my new colleague.)
• Freundschaften schließen: The plural form, used when you're talking about making multiple friends. Example: 'Auf der Uni ist es einfach, neue Freundschaften zu schließen.' (It's easy to make new friends at university.)
• Sometimes, the schließen part is implied, and people might just say 'Wir haben Freundschaft.' (We have friendship.) This is very informal and less common, but you might hear it. It's a bit like saying 'We're friends.'

Q: Is Freundschaft schließen formal or informal?

A: It’s generally neutral to slightly formal. You can use it in most situations, but it sounds a bit more considered than just saying 'we hang out.'

Q: Can I use it for existing friends?

A: No, it's specifically for *starting* a friendship. You wouldn't use it to describe your long-standing friendships.

Q: What's the difference between Freundschaft schließen and sich anfreunden?

A: Freundschaft schließen often implies a more conscious decision or a slightly more significant event. Sich anfreunden can feel a bit more gradual and common in everyday chat.

Q: Can I use machen instead of schließen?

A: Generally, no. While you might hear eine Freundschaft machen in very casual, perhaps non-native speech, schließen is the correct, idiomatic verb here. Stick with schließen!