Italian Phrase
Siamo vecchi amici.
Meaning
Literally, 'We are old friends.' It conveys that the speakers have known each other for a long time and share a deep, longstanding bond.
When to use
Use this phrase when reuniting with someone after a long time, introducing a long‑term friendship, or emphasizing the history behind a relationship.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Siamovecchiamici
Verb 'essere' (present)
Siamo is the first person plural present of essere, meaning 'we are'.
Adjective agreement
Vecchi agrees in gender and number with amici (masculine plural). Use vecchie for a group of women.
Noun 'amico/amica'
Amici is the plural of amico (friend). It can refer to mixed‑gender groups or all‑male groups.
🗨In Conversation
Ciao Marco! È passato tanto tempo.
Hey Marco! It's been a long time.
Sì, siamo vecchi amici.
Yes, we are old friends.
✕Common Mistakes
Siamo vecchio amici.
The adjective must agree in number and gender with amici; use vecchi for masculine plural.
Siamo vecchi amico.
Amico is singular; the sentence needs the plural amici.
Siamo vecchi amiche.
Use vecchie if the group is all female; vecchi is masculine.
↔Alternatives
Siamo amici di lunga data.
We are long‑time friends.
Siamo amici da tanto tempo.
We've been friends for a long time.
Siamo amici da sempre.
We've always been friends.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, friendships are often described with the adjective vecchio (old) to stress loyalty and shared history. The phrase is informal but perfectly acceptable in both casual conversation and slightly more formal contexts, as long as the tone remains friendly. Remember to match the adjective to the gender of the group: siamo vecchie amiche for an all‑female group.