Substitution for ‘partenaire’ and ‘vos proches’

Question

Does ‘copine/copain’ suggest a less serious relationship than partenaire  and does ‘êtres chers’ work for loved ones? Thanks

Accepted Answer

Hi Alan,
Just to add to what has already been said :

copain/copine = friend 
compagnon /compagne = partner

I hear this a lot to describe someone you live with but are not legally married to.
https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/compagne/17595
partenaire = partner
-  see the accompanying page as it can be a host of things!
https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/partenaire/58352
 
petit/e ami/e = boy/girlfriend
Un être cher  = a being who is dear to you ( être here is a noun not the verb) 
In the text one of the accepted answers was -
... appréciation aux êtres qui vous sont chers
Hope this helps!

Answer

Copine/copain -- buddy, friend, pal, mate, etc. It doesn't normally have a romantic meaning.Partenaire -- partner. This is very similar in meaning to it's English version. Depending on context, it can be modified to be more specific, e.g., partenaire de danse, partenaire commercial, etc.Être cher -- to be dear.Elle m'est chère. -- She is dear to me.

Answer

Just to add to Chris's comment -- an elderly French gentleman once introduced his wife to me as his copine. This was in the Midi, south of Toulouse so maybe there are regional differences in usage?

Bonne Journée.

Jim