What does befriend mean?
Word: Befriend
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Befriend means to become a friend to someone, often by being kind or helpful.
How do you spell befriend?
Syllables: be - friend
Tricky part: The e sound after the r is written with two vowels, and pupils often turn the pair round to give befreind.
Watch out for: befreind, befrend
Memory tip: A good friend stays to the end: those last three letters are your check that i came ahead of them.
Befriend in a sentence
Example 1: On her first day at the new school, Tara tried to befriend the quiet girl in the next seat.
Example 2: The farmer's children managed to befriend a shy calf by bringing it fresh grass.
Example 3: Theo likes to befriend new players at the chess club.
Fun Fact
Friend goes back to an Old English word linked to a verb meaning to love, so befriending someone began, in a sense, as an act of fondness.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
b_f_iend
a) a, r
b) e, r
c) i, r
d) e, l
Show answer
b) e, r. The word opens with the same two letters as begin, and the f is followed by the r of frog.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
beffriend
a) n
b) b
c) r
d) f
Show answer
d) f. A single f is all the word needs.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
ridbfnee
a) barefoot
b) befriend
c) beginner
d) breakfast
Show answer
b) befriend. The two e's, the f and the d point to one word only.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) aquaintance
b) befriend
c) encourage
d) neighbour
Show answer
a) aquaintance. Acquaintance has a c ahead of the q.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Rohan shares his lunch with a new pupil who looks lonely. What is he most likely trying to do?
a) make the boy feel welcome
b) win a lunchtime contest
c) show off his cooking
d) avoid doing his homework
Show answer
a) make the boy feel welcome
2. Which of these actions goes against the idea of befriending a new classmate?
a) inviting her to sit nearby
b) showing her around school
c) asking about her hobbies
d) ignoring her at every break
Show answer
d) ignoring her at every break
