Do girls sometimes refer to their female friends as ”girlfriends”? And why?

[Anonymous]

Feels like girls sometimes say that someone is their girlfriend but then later it becomes clear that they are just friends. Why do girls do this?

guys never refers to friends as boyfriends or girlfriends… just friends.

[BubblyPenguin23]

I guess it's just how some women are. I know the older generation does it a lot because that's just how they grew up. But also I think in context when women say girlfriends it means they're closer to those girls than to other friends they may have. It puts them into a more intimate friend box. Other times it could just be that they have more guy friends so they like to differentiate between male friends and female friends.

[Guy13]

Yes, even my Mom says, the girlfriends and I are going away for the weekend... keep up with your Dad.

[Wise4myage]

Yes, I think its just a form of bonding.

[Babygirl_S]

I have never done that.