German Idioms About Friendship: 28 Sayings with Meanings

Few things are as warm in German conversation as a good saying about friends. These german idioms about friendship turn up at birthdays, in long WhatsApp chats, at weddings, and in the quiet moment when someone simply shows up to help. They are short and vivid, and they show what Germans value in a friend: loyalty, honesty, and staying power. Below are 28 genuine sayings, grouped by theme, each with a literal translation, its real meaning, and an example you can actually use.

Pair them with other themed sets: our German idioms about family and our German idioms about time collection on the years friendships last.

German Idioms About Friendship: Loyalty That Lasts

Loyalty is the first test of friendship, and these sayings celebrate friends who stay.

1. Durch dick und dünn gehen

Literal translation: “To go through thick and thin.”
Meaning: To stick with someone through good times and bad, without giving up on the friendship.
Example: “Wir sind seit der Schulzeit befreundet und durch dick und dünn gegangen.” (“We have been friends since school and gone through thick and thin together.”)

2. Ein Herz und eine Seele sein

Literal translation: “To be one heart and one soul.”
Meaning: Two friends who agree on almost everything and feel deeply close.
Example: “Die beiden sind ein Herz und eine Seele und machen alles gemeinsam.” (“The two are one heart and one soul and do everything together.”)

3. Zusammenhalten wie Pech und Schwefel

Literal translation: “To stick together like pitch and sulphur.”
Meaning: To be inseparable friends, like the old sticky mixture that cannot be pulled apart.
Example: “Seit dem Studium halten sie zusammen wie Pech und Schwefel.” (“Since university they have stuck together like pitch and sulphur.”)

4. Dicke Freunde sein

Literal translation: “To be thick friends.”
Meaning: To be very close, loyal friends — the everyday German way of saying “best mates.”
Example: “Wir waren schon als Kinder dicke Freunde.” (“We were already thick friends as children.”)

5. Für jemanden durchs Feuer gehen

Literal translation: “To go through fire for someone.”
Meaning: To do anything for a friend, even something difficult or risky, out of loyalty.
Example: “Für meine beste Freundin würde ich durchs Feuer gehen.” (“I would go through fire for my best friend.”)

6. Für jemanden die Hand ins Feuer legen

Literal translation: “To put one’s hand in the fire for someone.”
Meaning: To vouch for a friend completely, with total trust in their honesty and character.
Example: “Für ihn lege ich die Hand ins Feuer — er würde nie lügen.” (“I would put my hand in the fire for him — he would never lie.”)

7. Jemandem treu zur Seite stehen

Literal translation: “To stand faithfully at someone’s side.”
Meaning: To support a friend loyally, especially when things get hard, rather than walking away.
Example: “In der schweren Zeit stand sie mir treu zur Seite.” (“In the difficult time she stood faithfully by my side.”)

8. Freunde fürs Leben sein

Literal translation: “To be friends for life.”
Meaning: A friendship expected to last a lifetime, not just a phase or a shared hobby.
Example: “Wir haben uns im Kindergarten kennengelernt und sind Freunde fürs Leben.” (“We met in kindergarten and are friends for life.”)

German Idioms About Friendship: True Friends vs False Friends

Not every friendly face is a true friend; these sayings draw that line with humour and wisdom.

9. Freunde in der Not gehen hundert auf ein Lot

Literal translation: “Friends in need go a hundred to a lot (a small old weight).”
Meaning: In trouble, very few friends remain.
Example: “Nach der Pleite blieben nur zwei Freunde übrig — Freunde in der Not gehen hundert auf ein Lot.” (“After the bankruptcy only two friends remained — friends in need are few indeed.”)

10. In der Not erkennt man seine Freunde

Literal translation: “In need, you recognise your friends.”
Meaning: Hard times reveal your real friends: the ones who stay and help.
Example: “Erst als ich krank wurde, wusste ich, wer wirklich zu mir steht — in der Not erkennt man seine Freunde.” (“Only when I fell ill did I know who really stood by me — in need, you recognise your friends.”)

11. Freundschaft, die der Wein gemacht, währt wie der Wein nur eine Nacht

Literal translation: “Friendship made by wine lasts, like the wine, only one night.”
Meaning: A friendship founded only on drinking and partying fades as fast as the evening.
Example: “Die Partyfreunde von damals sind längst weg — Freundschaft, die der Wein gemacht, währt wie der Wein nur eine Nacht.” (“Those party friends from back then are long gone — wine-made friendship lasts only a night.”)

12. Gleich und Gleich gesellt sich gern

Literal translation: “Like gladly joins like.”
Meaning: People with similar character or interests naturally become friends.
Example: “Beide lieben Wandern und schlechte Witze — gleich und Gleich gesellt sich gern.” (“Both love hiking and bad jokes — birds of a feather flock together.”)

13. Sage mir, mit wem du umgehst, und ich sage dir, wer du bist

Literal translation: “Tell me who you associate with, and I will tell you who you are.”
Meaning: Your friends reveal your character.
Example: “Seine Freunde sind ehrlich und hilfsbereit — sage mir, mit wem du umgehst, und ich sage dir, wer du bist.” (“His friends are honest and helpful — tell me your company, and I will tell you who you are.”)

14. Man kann sich seine Freunde aussuchen, seine Familie aber nicht

Literal translation: “You can choose your friends, but not your family.”
Meaning: Said with a shrug about difficult relatives — and gratitude that friends are freely chosen.
Example: “Zum Glück kann man sich seine Freunde aussuchen, seine Familie aber nicht.” (“Luckily you can choose your friends, but not your family.”)

Helping a Friend in Need

In german idioms about friendship, a friend is judged by actions, not words: showing up, standing up, and listening.

15. Einem Freund unter die Arme greifen

Literal translation: “To grip a friend under the arms.”
Meaning: To help someone practically, for example with a move or a heavy workload.
Example: “Beim Umzug haben mir meine Freunde unter die Arme gegriffen.” (“When I moved house, my friends lent a hand.”)

16. Sich für jemanden in die Bresche werfen

Literal translation: “To throw oneself into the breach for someone.”
Meaning: To defend a friend bravely when they are criticised or in trouble.
Example: “Als alle über ihn lästerten, warf sie sich für ihn in die Bresche.” (“When everyone gossiped about him, she threw herself into the breach for him.”)

17. Jemandem den Rücken freihalten

Literal translation: “To keep someone’s back free.”
Meaning: To cover for a friend, so they can focus without worry.
Example: “Während er im Krankenhaus war, hielten ihm seine Kollegen den Rücken frei.” (“While he was in hospital, his colleagues covered for him.”)

18. Jemandem aus der Patsche helfen

Literal translation: “To help someone out of the sticky mess.”
Meaning: To rescue a friend from an awkward situation.
Example: “Ich hatte den Zug verpasst, aber sie half mir aus der Patsche und holte mich ab.” (“I had missed the train, but she got me out of a fix and picked me up.”)

19. Jemandem sein Herz ausschütten

Literal translation: “To pour out one’s heart to someone.”
Meaning: To confide everything to a trusted friend.
Example: “Nach der Trennung schüttete sie ihrer besten Freundin ihr Herz aus.” (“After the break-up she poured her heart out to her best friend.”)

20. Ein offenes Ohr für jemanden haben

Literal translation: “To have an open ear for someone.”
Meaning: To listen patiently, without judging, whenever a friend needs to talk.
Example: “Ruf mich jederzeit an — ich habe immer ein offenes Ohr für dich.” (“Call me any time — I always have an open ear for you.”)

21. Kleine Geschenke erhalten die Freundschaft

Literal translation: “Small gifts preserve friendship.”
Meaning: Little thoughtful gestures — a coffee, a card, a remembered birthday — keep friendship alive.
Example: “Sie bringt immer Kuchen mit — kleine Geschenke erhalten die Freundschaft.” (“She always brings cake — small gifts preserve friendship.”)

Friendship, Time and Distance

German idioms about friendship cover both fates: friendships that survive years and miles, and ones that quietly fade.

22. Aus den Augen, aus dem Sinn

Literal translation: “Out of the eyes, out of the mind.”
Meaning: People we no longer see are easily forgotten.
Example: “Nach dem Umzug haben wir uns aus den Augen verloren — aus den Augen, aus dem Sinn.” (“After the move we lost sight of each other — out of sight, out of mind.”)

23. Alte Freundschaft rostet nicht

Literal translation: “Old friendship does not rust.”
Meaning: A long friendship does not wear out; modelled on alte Liebe rostet nicht, true friends pick up where they left off.
Example: “Nach zehn Jahren war es wie früher — alte Freundschaft rostet nicht.” (“After ten years it was like before — old friendship does not rust.”)

24. Sich blind verstehen

Literal translation: “To understand each other blindly.”
Meaning: Close friends who need no words — one look is enough.
Example: “Wir kennen uns so lange, wir verstehen uns blind.” (“We have known each other so long, we understand each other without words.”)

25. Zwei Seelen, ein Gedanke

Literal translation: “Two souls, one thought.”
Meaning: Said when two friends think the same thing at the same moment.
Example: “Wir wollten beide dasselbe Geschenk kaufen — zwei Seelen, ein Gedanke!” (“We both wanted to buy the same present — two souls, one thought!”)

26. Jemandem ans Herz gewachsen sein

Literal translation: “To have grown onto someone’s heart.”
Meaning: To have become deeply dear to someone over time.
Example: “In den Jahren in Berlin ist sie mir richtig ans Herz gewachsen.” (“During the years in Berlin she really grew close to my heart.”)

27. Geteiltes Leid ist halbes Leid, geteilte Freude ist doppelte Freude

Literal translation: “Shared sorrow is half sorrow, shared joy is double joy.”
Meaning: Troubles feel lighter and happiness bigger when shared with a true friend.
Example: “Erzähl es deinen Freunden — geteiltes Leid ist halbes Leid, geteilte Freude ist doppelte Freude.” (“Tell your friends — shared sorrow is half sorrow, shared joy is double joy.”)

28. In guten wie in schlechten Zeiten

Literal translation: “In good as in bad times.”
Meaning: Through every phase of life together — the promise at the heart of lasting friendship.
Example: “Wir halten zusammen in guten wie in schlechten Zeiten.” (“We stick together in good times and in bad.”)

How to Use These Sayings Naturally

These german idioms about friendship are best learned as fixed chunks, starting with the famous three — Durch dick und dünn gehen, Freunde in der Not gehen hundert auf ein Lot, and ein Herz und eine Seele sein. Word-by-word translation rarely works, especially with Pech und Schwefel or die Patsche. Match the tone: dicke Freunde is warm and casual, sich in die Bresche werfen is serious, Freundschaft, die der Wein gemacht is wry. Try them with friends first, not in formal emails. For work friendships, see our German idioms about work; food lovers will enjoy the German idioms about food set. Kumpel means a mate or buddy — see German words starting with K.

Key Takeaways

These 28 german idioms about friendship cover the whole arc of friendship: loyalty through thick and thin, the hard test of need, practical help, and friendships that survive time and distance. Pick three favourites and try one in your next German conversation — a well-placed durch dick und dünn instantly sounds native.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most famous german idioms about friendship?
Durch dick und dünn gehen (through thick and thin), Freunde in der Not gehen hundert auf ein Lot (friends in need are few), and ein Herz und eine Seele sein (one heart and one soul) are the three every German knows.

How do you say “a friend in need is a friend indeed” in German?
The closest are Freunde in der Not gehen hundert auf ein Lot and In der Not erkennt man seine Freunde — both say trouble reveals true friends.

What does “durch dick und dünn gehen” mean?
It means to go through thick and thin with someone — to stay loyal through good times and bad, whatever happens.

Are these friendship sayings used in everyday German?
Yes. Dicke Freunde, wir verstehen uns blind, and kleine Geschenke erhalten die Freundschaft are living, everyday speech.