draugs

Draugs is a Latvian noun meaning a male friend. It denotes a person with whom one has a close, informal relationship, built on trust and companionship. The feminine equivalent is draudzene. The word is widely used in everyday speech, literature, and media to refer to a companion or ally.

Etymology: Draugs originates from the Baltic language family and is cognate with Lithuanian draugas. It belongs to a semantic field that includes friendship and camaraderie; related forms include draudzība (friendship), draudzīgs (friendly), and draudzēties (to befriend or to become friends).

Usage: In sentences, draugs commonly appears as "Viņš ir mans draugs." The plural form is draugi. The term can also appear in broader senses, such as referring to allies or comrades in politics, sports, or other contexts.

See also: Latvian language; Latvian grammar; draudzība; draudzēties.