Pen pal: meaning, definitions and examples

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pen pal

 

[ ˈpen ˌpal ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

friendship

A person with whom one becomes friendly by exchanging letters, especially someone in a foreign country whom one has never met.

Synonyms

correspondent, epistolary friend, pen friend

Examples of usage

  • My pen pal from Japan sent me a letter with beautiful stamps.
  • We have been pen pals for over five years now.
Context #2 | Noun

online communication

A person with whom one communicates via online messaging or email, typically from a different region or country.

Synonyms

online friend, virtual friend

Examples of usage

  • I met my pen pal through a language exchange website.
  • We chat with our pen pals every week.

Translations

Translations of the word "pen pal" in other languages:

🇵🇹 amigo por correspondência

🇮🇳 पत्र मित्र

🇩🇪 Brieffreund

🇮🇩 sahabat pena

🇺🇦 друг по листуванню

🇵🇱 przyjaciel korespondencyjny

🇯🇵 ペンフレンド

🇫🇷 correspondant

🇪🇸 amigo por correspondencia

🇹🇷 mektup arkadaşı

🇰🇷 편지 친구

🇸🇦 صديق المراسلة

🇨🇿 dopisujující přítel

🇸🇰 priatelia na písanie

🇨🇳 笔友

🇸🇮 pisni prijatelj

🇮🇸 bréfavinur

🇰🇿 хат жазысатын дос

🇬🇪 ფოსტის მეგობარი

🇦🇿 məktub dostu

🇲🇽 amigo por correspondencia

Etymology

The concept of having a pen pal dates back to the early 20th century when people would exchange letters with strangers from different countries to learn about their culture and language. The term 'pen pal' became popularized in the mid-20th century with the rise of international communication. Today, pen pals can be established through traditional mail or various online platforms, fostering friendships and connections across borders.