What is a pen pal?
AnswerA friend you exchange letters with
Pen pals build friendships by writing letters, often across countries.
Society · Facts & stats
Friend facts & stats
7 fact-checked facts about friends and friendship, each with the reason behind it. 5 more are in today's round and join this page after it closes.
The basics
What does the abbreviation 'BFF' stand for?
AnswerBest friends forever
BFF is informal shorthand for best friends forever.
Going deeper
The United Nations International Day of Friendship is observed on which date?
AnswerJuly 30
The UN General Assembly proclaimed July 30 as the International Day of Friendship in 2011.
A 'platonic' friendship is named after which ancient philosopher?
AnswerPlato
The term comes from Plato, whose writings describe a love directed toward wisdom and goodness rather than romance.
The English word 'amicable' comes from the Latin word 'amicus', meaning what?
AnswerFriend
Latin 'amicus' means friend and also gives English words like 'amity'.
Expert level
In mathematics, 220 and 284 are called 'amicable numbers'. Why?
AnswerThe proper divisors of each add up to the other number
The proper divisors of 220 sum to 284, and those of 284 sum to 220, the smallest such pair.
The Old English word 'freond', the root of 'friend', is related to a verb meaning what?
AnswerTo love
'Friend' comes from Old English 'freond', from a Germanic verb meaning to love.
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