amiche

Amiche is the feminine plural form of the Italian noun amica, meaning female friends. The term derives from the Latin amica, the feminine of amicus, and denotes a group of women who share a friendship. It is a common, non-proper noun used in everyday language.

In usage, amiche refers specifically to women and takes feminine plural agreement with articles and adjectives. The definite article for a group is le: Le mie amiche. Possessives also agree in gender and number (le mie amiche, le vostre amiche). If the group includes men or is mixed, Italian typically uses amici (the masculine plural) instead.

Examples:

- Le mie amiche verranno stasera. (My female friends will come tonight.)

- Le amiche di lunga data si sono riunite per un caffè. (The longtime female friends gathered for coffee.)

Compared with amici, which refers to male friends or a mixed-gender group, amiche is reserved for women. The word is often used in casual speech, social contexts, and literature to highlight female friendship or camaraderie.

Related terms include amico (male friend), amica (female friend), amicizia (friendship), and amicabile (friendly). Amiche is a straightforward, everyday noun that helps specify gender and number when discussing social relationships among women.