Not a friend, but...?
I've learned from one of discussions on italki that "acquaintance" is the outdated word. How can I call a person that I knew once, but haven't seen him for years and we didn't keep in touch. He is obviously not my friend, he is...?
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 7
2
'Acquaintance' is fine. It's the correct word.
While you won't hear many teenagers use this term, it's a perfectly normal word for an adult to say.
Alternatives would be a vague phrase along the lines of 'He's just someone I know from the gym' or 'She's just a person I used to work with' or 'He's a friend of a friend'.
0
Thank you, Marsha
0
I agree with both comments and you could also use "past acquaintance."
0
Thank you, Christian S, you help me a lot today:)
0
Acquaintance works fine and I think it is still regularly used. Maybe in some places it is outdated? Where I'm from, we use this word a lot!
Still haven’t found your answers?
Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn a language from the comfort of your own home. Browse our selection of experienced language tutors and enroll in your first lesson now!
Start Learning Today
