You’ll meet many types of people in your life. Some of them will leave a lasting, positive mark on your life, others…more of a negative one. The friends you make throughout your life ultimately shape who you are as a person, so it’s vital that you surround yourself with the right ones.
And of course, those “right” friends vary depending on what stage of your life you are in. Some types you wouldn’t hang out with when you are in your teens, but later in life, you come to appreciate them. As we grow older and change, so do the people in our life.
Here are the 28 types of friends every woman has at some stage in her life.
Table of Contents
1. The ride or die friend
The woman who’s always there for you when things get tough and somehow always has a bottle of wine or tub of ice cream at hand. You can have a good cry in her presence, and you know that she won’t judge you. You can trust her with your secrets, and it feels really good to know that she’s there for you, no matter what.
She knows your story and what you’ve been through, and always takes your side. It’s essential to have a ride or die friend, the one who doesn’t bail on you when you are not at your best.
2. The copycat
They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, but we’ve all got limits. You know that friend who seems just a little obsessed with you – what you say, where you go, what you buy, who you date.
She watches you closely and copies everything she can to try and be like you. Why? You probably exemplify everything she wants to be but isn’t. If you spend a lot of time with a copycat, this behavior can really start to irritate you.
3. The underminer
This friend seems to go out of her way to undermine everything you say or do. What’s her problem, you must be thinking? She says some hurtful things in a joking or sarcastic way, yet they still come across as her undermining.
You are probably better off without her in your life, this isn’t someone you should rely on.
4. The one-up friend
We’ve all got someone in our life who relentlessly tries to one-up everything we do. You have a boyfriend? She’s got a better one. You got a raise? She got a bigger one! You had a shit day? She had a much shittier day than you. The list goes on…
She is obsessed with comparing herself to everything you achieve and nothing you do is ever going to impress her. She might not even know she’s doing this, it’s literally a part of her personality.
5. The party girl
Everyone needs a party girl as a friend, especially in their twenties. But it’s also completely normal if you have mixed feelings about your friendship. All she wants to do is party and get drunk. She isn’t interested in settling down, so as soon as you do, this friend will likely vanish from your circle.
6. The college friend
That one girl who was your bestie in college and was by your side through a lot, but from whom you’ve grown apart. But the beauty of this friendship is that whenever you are together, it’s like no time has passed. You indulge in nostalgia, gossip, and planning when next to see each other.
7. The long-distance friend
The one friend you wish lived closer, but you can’t do anything about. A long-distance friend is still a lovely friend to have, and when you meet it feels like nothing has changed. In the meantime, you send each other gifts and cards for birthdays and Christmas, you share all your secrets with them, and are grateful to them despite the distance.
8. The narcissist
This is another type of friend who’s probably doing more damage than good, and who you should eventually distance yourself from.
Me, me, me…that’s the only vibe you get from her. She wants to be the center of every conversation and every event. She thinks the world revolves around her and sulks when things don’t go her way.
She talks incessantly about herself, doesn’t ask you any questions, and while harmless, is just totally irksome.
9. The hopeless romantic
The hopeless romantic is usually merged with another type of friend – the boy-crazed one. This girl is always falling in love with a guy, getting her heart broken, and somehow recovering overnight only to find herself madly in love with a new guy straight after.
She likes to hook up, go on loads of dates, and is on all the dating apps. She plans what to wear on dates, posts lots of social media pics with the men she dates, and generally is a little hopeless.
You know she’s desperate to find love and you are not a fan of her approach to it.
10. The flake
There’s always that one friend who is completely useless at making plans and sticking to them. She either cancels on you, forgets to turn up, or turns up late. Totally unreliable!
11. The feminist
The feminist wants you to know that she is one and always has something to say on the topic. She also seems to be disappointed if you’re not on her level – you just aren’t doing enough to fight the patriarchy in her eyes.
12. The anti-man friend
The opposite to the boy-crazed one, this friend is simply not interested in meeting anyone. It makes you wonder what her deal is. She doesn’t want to hook up with anyone and even gets annoyed when guys approach you when you are together. One thing is certain – don’t pick her for a wing-woman.
13. The spinster
Even if she isn’t that old, you know exactly who this friend is. She just can’t seem to keep a guy. She’s been single for years and her dates have questionable results. She calls herself a spinster, acts like one, and seemingly owns the label – which makes her look unattractive.
She says she will die alone, never marry, and never have kids because there isn’t anyone out there for her. She can be a real negative Nancy and despite how much you want to help her, she has to change her mindset to be helped.
14. The glamorous girl
It’s like this friend is out of a Victoria’s Secret catalog. She’s girly, always dolled-up, and on fleek. She makes you feel like you need to step up your game.
15. The whiner
This friend can drain all your energy as soon as she opens her mouth. She is always unhappy about something – she got the wrong coffee order, a colleague pissed her off, her boyfriend won’t propose, she thinks she’s too fat.
There’s literally nothing that seems to be good enough for her, and she insists on telling you all about her misfortunes.
This one is very similar to the Naysayer friend who always disagrees with you or finds the negative in any situation.
16. The clingy one
You can’t ever leave her alone because she literally freaks out. She admires you and follows you around like a puppy. Whenever you go to a party, she stands right next to you the whole time.
You might want to help her develop some social skills or you’ll have to accept that she’ll become your shadow.
17. The Zen one
Every woman needs a Zen friend. Someone who never freaks out about anything. Calm and collected, she offers sound advice, keeps herself together, and never panics, no matter the situation. You can’t help but admire her, she’s a total gem to have in your life!
18. The broke one
This is that one friend who is always broke, always needs you to lend money, and yet always makes plans with you when she knows she can’t afford it. You know that she uses you but at the same time, you can’t help but feel sorry for her.
19. The bridezilla
At some point in your life, your friends will start getting married and things will change. Not only in their lives but also in their personalities. Prepare to meet the Bridezilla! And sadly, you won’t know which one of your friends will turn into this wedding-obsessed creature until it happens.
You know, the one who will dictate everything about HER day, and make everyone’s life (wedding vendors, friends, and family members) a living hell. The Bridezilla is a temporary state of madness, so you can at least expect to see your friend back to her normal self as soon as she’s tied the knot.
20. The acquaintance
This one isn’t even a proper friend and yet every time you bump into each other, she’s thrilled to see you, she wants you to grab a drink soon, and promises to text you. Let’s face it, it never happens, and it probably never will.
21. The fair-weather friend
Unlike your ride-or-die friend, the fair-weather friend is only around when things are going well with you. When you are feeling down or in need of support, she’s just not there. She only likes all the perks of being your friend when things are going well.
22. The gay friend
The gay best friend is one of the best friends any woman can have. He’s fun, non-judgmental, and non-threatening. And most of all, he won’t ruin the friendship by trying to sleep with you. It’s a win-win!
23. The old-money friend
Also known as the trust fund baby, this friend in your girl group has always been rich. She doesn’t have a clue what it’s like not to have a free flow of money at her disposal. She loves the finer things in life and certainly has an expensive taste.
It can be hard to keep up with the old-money friend, especially if she doesn’t work a traditional job and just travels around parading her purchases on Instagram.
24. The childhood best friend
Your oldest friend will always hold a special place in your heart, whether you’ve seen each other as adults or not. You share so much history together that it can be a huge advantage if you are still friends as grown-ups…or a disadvantage if she uses your history to manipulate you.
25. The food and wine snob
This special kind of friend can be a blessing in disguise if you are willing to swirl, sniff, and send back every wine that isn’t worth it (according to her). But if you are quite low maintenance when it comes to food, the food snob can be quite a handful to spend time with.
There are never enough veggie options on the menu for her. The food is not cooked or presented properly. The wine bottle isn’t cold enough. She somehow manages to spoil every dining experience with her high expectations.
26. The chronic Instagrammer
This friend never seems to listen to you. She’s too busy proving to everyone online that she is having a great time 24/7. She Instagrams everything – from her morning coffee to her outfit of the day, and her dates. She is the ultimate selfie queen!
She’s seemingly dependent on validation from likes and comments and less interested in actually enjoying the moment. She insists on going to Instagram-worthy places and you end up becoming her photographer every time you are out together.
27. The work BFF/work husband
Your work bestie, or work husband, is, essential for your happiness at work. You just can’t imagine not having them around. They make work more bearable and if they left, you’d give your notice straight after.
Whether it’s for drinks after work, secret chatting during work hours, or supporting each other on projects, your adult life wouldn’t be the same without them.
28. The best friend forever (BFF)
Your number one best friend forever is someone you’ve probably known for years. She is the sister you chose! She is not perfect, but she’s always there for you, and you know that you will be friends until the day you die.
