From what I know, people uses the word "girl friend" for an actual girl friend, but when in a case, just a friends thats a girl, in german you would just say, A friend, not my friend, its just a friend,
so for example i would say
"Ich habe mit einer Freundin gesprochen"
I spoke with a friend(girl)
but if its YOUR actual girlfriend,
"Ich habe mit meiner Freundin gesprochen"
the ifference located in just, is it A friend, or its MY friend.
Tho I don't know how it actually works, but i've heard from my lehrer/innen so.
(please cmiiw)