American English speakers use the word "friend" indiscriminately between friend and acquaintance, instead qualifying the degree (e.g., friend, "good" friend, "best" friend, "very best" friend, etc.). How is that handled by speakers of Esperanto, especially native speakers? Is there a strong distinction between amiko and konato? I really don't want to make a cultural blunder because of my beginner's ignorance. Dankon!

jkph00:American English speakers use the word "friend" indiscriminately between friend and acquaintance, instead qualifying the degree (e.g., friend, "good" friend, "best" friend, "very best" friend, etc.). How is that handled by speakers of Esperanto, especially native speakers? Is there a strong distinction between amiko and konato? I really don't want to make a cultural blunder because of my beginner's ignorance. Dankon!

Konato is simply one who is known, a known person. Such a person could be an enemy. Amiko conveys the more specific notion of friendship.

jkph00:American English speakers use the word "friend" indiscriminately between friend and acquaintance, instead qualifying the degree (e.g., friend, "good" friend, "best" friend, "very best" friend, etc.). How is that handled by speakers of Esperanto, especially native speakers? Is there a strong distinction between amiko and konato? I really don't want to make a cultural blunder because of my beginner's ignorance. Dankon!

malproksima konato
konato
proksima konato
amiko
bona amiko
la plej bona amiko
koramiko
simpatiulo/simpatiulino

and so on...

konato for people you don't care about, (mal)amiko for people you do care about

For a full spectrum, see Geo's post

E.g. other than you being a fellow human being, I don't actually really know you and other than our shared humanity neither of us would be relatively important to one another, ergo we'd be malproksimaj kontatoj (although amiko could be used for respect or politeness, but of course calling someone your friend (mate/buddy) when they don't feel that way could be awkward, especially with people of the opposite sex (personal experience), except when using it as a term of address (E.g. "hey can you help me?" "Yeah sure mate/friend". Just hope they're chilled!).

Mind you, from your profile picture you seem like a very friendly person, so I'm sure you'd get away with it. People like me with a rather indifferent look on our faces would probably look a bit suspect though haha.

'Amiko' can be used I think with a false bonhomie. So a politician addressing a crowd might say 'Karaj amikoj'.

Lately I have been wondering about how to render 'my dear fellow', 'my good chap', 'my good man' - I've been reading Sherlock Holmes.

I noticed that in the French translation 'mon cher ami' is often used in the text.

Anyway, I suspect 'amiko' can be used in Esperanto with some degree of insincerity.

sudanglo:
Lately I have been wondering about how to render 'my dear fellow', 'my good chap', 'my good man' - I've been reading Sherlock Holmes.

bonamiko? Kamarado?

And what would be the word in Esperanto for boyfriend/girlfriend?

Because I've always used koramik(in)o.

Hispanio:And what would be the word in Esperanto for boyfriend/girlfriend?

Because I've always used koramik(in)o.

That's the accepted word, I believe.

T0dd:

jkph00:American English speakers use the word "friend" indiscriminately between friend and acquaintance, instead qualifying the degree (e.g., friend, "good" friend, "best" friend, "very best" friend, etc.). How is that handled by speakers of Esperanto, especially native speakers? Is there a strong distinction between amiko and konato? I really don't want to make a cultural blunder because of my beginner's ignorance. Dankon!

Konato is simply one who is known, a known person. Such a person could be an enemy. Amiko conveys the more specific notion of friendship.

Even an enemy, eh? Fascinating. And powerful! Dankon!

geo63:

jkph00:American English speakers use the word "friend" indiscriminately between friend and acquaintance, instead qualifying the degree (e.g., friend, "good" friend, "best" friend, "very best" friend, etc.). How is that handled by speakers of Esperanto, especially native speakers? Is there a strong distinction between amiko and konato? I really don't want to make a cultural blunder because of my beginner's ignorance. Dankon!

malproksima konato
konato
proksima konato
amiko
bona amiko
la plej bona amiko
koramiko
simpatiulo/simpatiulino

and so on...

What an exquisite range of possibilities! I have read comments saying that Esperanto can be incredibly exact. Here is a wonderful example of just how so. Dankon! "Koramiko" would be a "dear friend" in English, or perhaps even a "friend of the heart." Anyone who has had such a friend will savor that one. Dankon!