# befriend

> English word · Verb · IPA /bɪˈfɹɛnd/ · frequency rank #31,453

## Definitions
1. To become a friend of, to make friends with.
2. To act as a friend to, to assist.
3. To favor.

## Etymology
From be- + friend. Compare Saterland Frisian befrüündje (“to befriend”), Dutch bevrienden (“to befriend”), German Low German befründen (“to befriend”),
German befreunden (“to befriend”). Compare also West Frisian befreone (“befriended”).

## Easily confused with
- **boyfriend** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/befriend-vs-boyfriend)

## Common misspellings (12)
`bbefriend`, `beffriend`, `befirend`, `befreind`, `befriedn`, `befriendd`, `befriennd`, `befrined`, `befrriend`, `berfiend`, `bferiend`, `ebfriend`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/befriend