ein guter Bekannter

/aɪn ˈɡuːtɐ bəˈkantə/
phraseIntermediate an acquaintance
informal

A person one knows casually but not intimately; someone you are familiar with but not close friends with.

Ich habe ihn auf einer Party kennengelernt, aber wir sind nur gute Bekannte.

I met him at a party, but we're just acquaintances.

Sie ist eine gute Bekannte aus dem Fitnessstudio.

She is an acquaintance from the gym.

💡

This phrase emphasizes a casual, non-intimate relationship. It is more formal than 'ein Freund' (a friend) but less formal than 'ein Kollege' (a colleague).

Related Phrases

💡Pro Tip

Formality

Use this phrase when introducing someone you know casually but not intimately.

Gold Rule

Context

This phrase is often used in social settings to describe relationships that are friendly but not deep.

📖Word Origin

The phrase combines 'ein guter' (a good) with 'Bekannter' (acquaintance), emphasizing a casual but positive relationship.

📝Usage Notes

This phrase is commonly used to describe someone you know socially but not deeply. It is often used to politely distance oneself from a closer relationship.

Word Breakdown

ein
a
article
+
guter
good
adjective
+
Bekannter
acquaintance
noun
Deutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch