The correct spelling of the phrase "wert friends" is actually "we're friends", as in "we are friends". The contraction "we're" combines the pronoun "we" and the verb "are". In IPA phonetic transcription, "we're" is pronounced as /wɪr/. The confusion in spelling may stem from the fact that "were" (pronounced /wɜr/) is a common past tense form of the verb "to be". However, in this case, the correct spelling and pronunciation is "we're friends".
The phrase "wert friends" is a combination of two words: "wert" and "friends".
The word "wert" is the archaic second-person singular past tense form of the verb "be" in Early Modern English. It was commonly used in Shakespearean era English. In modern English, it has been replaced by "was" in most cases. "Wert" is derived from the Old English word "wǣre", meaning "were".
The word "friends" comes from the Old English word "frēond", which meant "lover, kinsman, relative, or friend". In the context of "wert friends", it refers to companions or people with whom one has a close bond.
So, when you combine "wert" (the past tense of "be") with "friends", it forms the phrase "wert friends", meaning "you were friends".