Aya Nakamura "Copines": Translation, Meaning & French Slang
Aya Nakamura's "Copines" means "female friends" or "girlfriends" in French. Here, "friends" is the better translation: she realizes that a guy pursuing her is also checking out her friends. Instead of competing for his attention, she rejects him and turns the chorus into a joke at his expense.
Released on August 24, 2018, "Copines" became a No. 1 hit in France and later appeared on Nakamura's second album, Nakamura. The song was produced by Julio Masidi and went Diamond in France.
Years later, "Copines" is reaching another international audience through dance and translation videos. That creates an obvious question for listeners who know the chorus but do not speak French: what is Aya actually saying?
What is Aya Nakamura's "Copines" about?
The situation is a dating fail.
A guy is interested in Aya. But she realizes his attention is not only on her.
Her response is what makes the song interesting. She does not get angry at the other women or try harder to win him over. She decides he is the problem.
The guy thinks he has options. Aya decides he has none.
"Copines" - The official music video
What does "Copines" mean in English?
The French word "copines" can mean "female friends" or "girlfriends", depending on the context.
Here, "my friends" is the natural translation. Aya is talking about the women in her friend group, not several romantic girlfriends.
That small difference matters. The title does not describe Aya's romantic relationships. It points to the group of women at the center of the guy's wandering attention.
What does "Mais qui est la plus bonne de mes copines?" mean?
"Mais qui est la plus bonne, bonne, bonne de mes copines?"
A natural English translation is roughly: "But which one of my friends is the hottest?"
Without context, it sounds as if Aya genuinely wants the man to choose.
She does not.
The question works as a taunt. She has seen enough of his behavior, so she exaggerates it back at him: if he is so interested in everyone, which woman does he actually want?
That changes the feeling of the chorus. One of the song's catchiest lines is also Aya making fun of him.
"I'm not your Plan B" is the key line
"J'suis pas ton plan B"
English translation: "I'm not your Plan B."
This is the line that makes Aya's position clear.
She is not trying to become his first choice. She refuses to be part of the choice at all.
That is why "Copines" works better as a rejection song than a jealousy song. The guy may think he can keep his options open, but Aya simply takes herself out of the game.
What does "Aya t'a cramé" mean?
"Mon gars t'as coulé / Aya t'a cramé"
In context, "Aya t'a cramé" is close to "Aya caught you" or "Aya saw through you."
"Cramer" is French slang that can be used when someone has been caught, exposed or figured out. A literal translation would miss the attitude of the line.
By this point, Aya knows what the guy is doing. She even uses her own name while announcing that she has seen through him.
It feels less like heartbreak and more like a victory lap.
Why is "Copines" popular again?
"Copines" was released in 2018, but its chorus works unusually well for listeners who do not speak French. You do not need to understand every word to remember its repeated hook.
Dance videos give the song one entry point. Translation videos create another: people hear the French chorus, recognize it and then want to know what they have actually been singing.
That translation changes the experience of the hook.
Without understanding the words, it sounds like an instantly memorable dance chorus. Once you understand the French, the same chorus suddenly sounds sarcastic.
FAQ
What does "Copines" mean in Aya Nakamura's song?
"Copines" refers to Aya's female friends. A guy shows interest in Aya but also turns his attention toward them, and she decides she is not interested anymore.
What does "copines" mean in English?
"Copines" can mean "female friends" or "girlfriends". In this song, "friends" is the more natural translation.
What language is spoken in the song "Copines"?
"Copines" is sung in French. Nakamura also uses casual language and slang, which is why some lines do not translate naturally word for word.
Why are "Copines" so popular?
If the question refers to the song, its memorable chorus and dance-friendly sound helped make it a major hit. Social media has since introduced the 2018 track to new international listeners.
What the "Copines" chorus really says
The clever part of "Copines" is that Aya never enters the competition the guy seems to be creating.
The chorus sounds like a question, but Aya is not waiting for an answer.
By the time she asks him to choose, she has already decided he is not worth choosing.
Further Reading