a friend in need is a friend indeed

Syllables: a friend in need is a friend in·deed/ə ˌfɹɛnd ɪn ˈniːd ɪz ə ˌfɹɛnd ɪnˈdiːd/US/ə ˌfɹɛnd ən ˈnid ɪz ə ˌfɹɛnd ɪnˈdid/

a friend in need is a friend indeed proverb: if a friend helps one when one is in need, that person is a true friend.

Proverb

a friend in need is a friend indeed

If a friend helps one when one is in need, that person is a true friend.
- A friend in need is a friend indeed, Een vrient in noot / is een vrient in der daet.1658, The English Schole-master; or Certaine Rules and Helpes, whereby the Natives of the Netherlandes, may bee, in a Short Time, Taught to Read, Understand, and Speake the English Tongue. […]...
- Every one is a kinſman to him that is proſperous, but a friend in need is a friend indeed.1661 May 3, John Bramhall, “Discourse III. A Sermon Preached at Dublin, upon the 23. of April, 1661 [Julian calendar], being the Day Appointed for His Majesties Coronation; […]”, in Jo[hn] Lymeric...
If a friend is in need of help, it is beneficial and wise to help them.
- 'Stan!' Ian replies, with a hurt look on his face. 'Would I do a thing like that? I'm just here to give you moral support. I reckon you're going to need all the help you can get. You know what they say; a friend in need is a friend indeed.'/ 'Or in your mind, a friend in need is a soft target. Now...2011, Paul A. Rose, “Saturday; Love is in the Air”, in Los Hombres de Bolton (The Men from Bolton), Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicester: Matador, →ISBN, page 153
- "You know, they say a friend in need is a friend indeed. I donated blood, but others even donate hearts, so after all, I feel pretty good that my friend is now safe from the little blood I could drop," Katy said passionately.2011, Appau Ama Tiwaa, Our Perfect Moment, [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris, →ISBN, page 81

a friend in need is a friend indeed meaning in Malayalam, Arabic and Malay

a friend in need is a friend indeed in Malayalam

if a friend helps you when you are in need, they are a true friend: ആവശ്യത്തിനു ഉപകരിക്കുന്നവാണ് യഥാർത്ഥ സുഹൃത്ത് āvaśyattinu upakarikkunnavāṇŭ yathāṟttha suhr̥ttŭ

a friend in need is a friend indeed in Arabic

if a friend helps you when you are in need, they are a true friend: الصَّدِيق وَقْت الضِيق aṣ-ṣadīq waqt aḍ-ḍīq

a friend in need is a friend indeed in Malay

if a friend helps you when you are in need, they are a true friend: sahabat yang sebenar sedia menolong sahabat dalam kesusahan

Examples of a friend in need is a friend indeed in a sentence

A friend in need is a friend indeed, ſay I;—but you can't judge of it.—No,—unleſs you had the rope about your neck, and were walking all alive to your grave.1795, Frederick Schiller [i.e., Friedrich Schiller], translated by [Alexander Fraser Tytler, Lord Woodhouselee], The Robbers. A Tragedy....
The gentlemen on the other side of the House have been peculiarly called the friends of the people; remember a friend in need is a friend indeed.1802 February 3, Aaron Ogden, “Judiciary System [Third Reading of the bill to repeal certain acts respecting the organization of the Courts...
"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." "A friend in need is a friend indeed."1875, J[ohn] Murdoch, “Companions and Neighbours”, in The Indian Student’s Manual. Hints on Studies, Moral Conduct, Religious Duties, and...
He was happy to drive us there—about three miles across some fields that would shake your eye teeth out. […] They say “a friend in need is a friend indeed.” Mr.1958 September, Marvin L. Middlebrooks, “[Letter to the magazine]”, in Flying, volume 63, number 3, Chicago, Ill.: Ziff-Davis Publishing...

Origin of a friend in need is a friend indeed

The idea that false friends will abandon a person in times of adversity while true friends will reveal themselves and provide help is ancient: the Greek playwright Euripides (c. 480 – c. 406 BC) wrote in Hecuba (424 BC), ἐν τοῖς κακοῖς γὰρ ἁγαθοὶ σαφέστατοι φίλοι: τὰ χρηστὰ δ’ αὔθ’ ἕκαστ’ ἔχει φίλους (en toîs kakoîs gàr hagathoì saphéstatoi phíloi: tà khrēstà d’ aúth’ hékast’ ékhei phílous, “it is in trouble’s hour that the good most clearly show their friendship; though prosperity by itself in every case finds friends”), and the Roman poet Ennius (c. 239 – c. 169 BC) observed in his Tragedies that amicus certus in re incerta cernitur (“a sure friend is known in unsure times”).

Words that rhyme with a friend in need is a friend indeed

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Questions about a friend in need is a friend indeed

What does a friend in need is a friend indeed mean?: A friend in need is a friend indeed means if a friend helps one when one is in need, that person is a true friend.
What is a friend in need is a friend indeed in Malayalam?: A friend in need is a friend indeed in Malayalam is ആവശ്യത്തിനു ഉപകരിക്കുന്നവാണ് യഥാർത്ഥ സുഹൃത്ത് (āvaśyattinu upakarikkunnavāṇŭ yathāṟttha suhr̥ttŭ). See A friend in need is a friend indeed meaning in Malayalam.
How do you use a friend in need is a friend indeed in a sentence?: A friend in need is a friend indeed, ſay I;—but you can't judge of it.—No,—unleſs you had the rope about your neck, and were walking all alive to your grave.
What part of speech is a friend in need is a friend indeed?: A friend in need is a friend indeed is a proverb.
How do you pronounce a friend in need is a friend indeed?: A friend in need is a friend indeed is pronounced /ə ˌfɹɛnd ɪn ˈniːd ɪz ə ˌfɹɛnd ɪnˈdiːd/ (UK).

Words near a friend in need is a friend indeed in the dictionary

Adapted from Wiktionary: a friend in need is a friend indeed (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated: 2026-09-02

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