Friends

We all have some friends. Some of them are since our childhood, some of them are come later. I don’t know if there is in English any difference between “friend” and “a real friend” in English. Russian people I see understand me. We have, for example, word «приятель» for not close friends, but “друг” for close friends. My question is: how you can call those not so close to you, friends?

Friend is a word used in both cases, but if you want to differentiate between them you can say:

- "partner(s)" for those who work with you, 

- "mate(s) or classmate(s)" for friends at school

- and "buddy" for anyone you know, but it´s not so close to you...