At one of topics Bliss tried to explain difference between DOST and ARKADAŞ using Russian. For Russian speakers and others interested:
http://www.turkishclass.com/forumTitle_11_190

There seem to be other words for much the same thing :-S

"yaren" has just come up on the word game

"Yaren" is the kind of friend you enjoy talking to..no secrets from a "yaren"

Dont tell me you talk to all your friends. With some, you prefer to go fishing with...

Let's not forget the importance of a 'kanka' - blood brother! you can't get better than that can you?

'good day friends'
Sui - we say in england 'fair weather' friends.

yaren isn't common and I think it should be skipped by learners. Most of the Turks wouldnt understand and if they do they would misunderstand it as it sounds related to yar (lover). Just forget about this one.
Ahbap can also be skipped if you don't like a strong language.

Well.. in the end i'd like to learn all the sides of a language.. also the ones that most turks dont even understand themselves But indeed.. not as a beginner
That is more for advanced, a stage i won't reach for quite some time im afraid..

dost means buddy,dude.....but arkadaş means friend or mate....

for example can dostum:my very close friend or soulmate


sınıf arkadaşim:classmate

arkadaş and dost means friend. we just explained the hidden meaning behind the word "dost". it simply has a more powerful meaning than arkadaş. and of course the "lover" meaning too.