Terms of endearment are a nice way to let people know how we feel about them, an opportunity to get creative with words, and, of course, a very useful approach to a new language. Today, I\u2019m going to go over the most romantic, strange, hilarious, absurd terms of endearment in French with the help of our native French teacher, L\u00e9a.<\/p>\n
French terms of endearment for romance<\/h2>\n1. Mon c\u0153ur <\/em>(My heart)<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/pexels-kristina-paukshtite-704748.jpg\")
Is there anything more essential to our survival than our beating hearts? Though this French nickname is not frequently used in English, it is the ultimate term of endearment in le langage de l'amour. <\/em>Oh, and the best thing is that you can also use it for your children!<\/p>\n2. Doudou (My\u2026 cuddly thing? Blankie?)<\/h3>\n
One of the funniest things about French terms is how different they are from their nearest English equivalents.<\/p>\n
One of the most untranslatable French nicknames out there, doudou <\/em>refers to a toddler\u2019s most cherished, unable-to-let-go item, usually a teddy bear or a blanket.<\/p>\n\u201cBut L\u00e9a\u2026 Doudou? What does that even mean? Where does it come from?\u201d<\/p>\n
According to L\u00e9a, doudou <\/em>is a slang term in some African countries, including the West Indies, that people use to casually refer to a girlfriend or a wife. As a French nickname, however, you can use it for both men and women.<\/p>\n3. Ma moiti\u00e9 (My other half)<\/h3>\n
In Spanish, people say \u201cmi media naranja<\/em>\u201d (half an orange); in Italian, \u201cla mia dolce met\u00e0<\/em>\u201d (my sweet half); in English, \u201cmy better half\u201d. Seriously, what is up with romantic love? Shouldn\u2019t we see ourselves as complete beings?<\/p>\nYes, I know. Completely off-topic.<\/p>\n
Anyway, according to L\u00e9a, this is one of the most popular nicknames for a boyfriend or a girlfriend, and you can also use it with your best friend to mean something like \u201cmy partner in crime\u201d.<\/p>\n
4. Ma ch\u00e9rie (my darling)<\/h3>\n
For once, we have a perfect, equally common counterpart in English. Yay!<\/p>\n
Not so fast, Juan.<\/em><\/p>\nWhat? Who\u2019s speaking? Oh, L\u00e9a, I had forgotten you were here.<\/p>\n
Apparently, the French ch\u00e9rie <\/em>is a bit more complex than its English equivalent. There\u2019s ch\u00e9rie<\/em>, ch\u00e9ri<\/em>, cher<\/em>, ch\u00e8re<\/em>, and of course, there is the singer Cher, but again, that would be a bit off-topic.<\/p>\nSo let\u2019s just focus on French nicknames for the time being:<\/p>\n
\n- Use ma ch\u00e9rie<\/em> to talk to a girl or a woman<\/li>\n
- Use mon ch\u00e9ri<\/em> to talk to a boy or a man<\/li>\n
- Use ma ch\u00e8re<\/em> (feminine) and mon cher<\/em> (masculine) when writing a letter.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
(If you think this is way too complicated for a blog about French nicknames, kindly address your complaints to L\u00e9a\u2026)<\/p>\n
5. Mon tr\u00e9sor <\/em>(My treasure)<\/h3>\nDo you remember Gollum, from The Lord of the Rings<\/em> series, who devoted his whole life to looking after a ring he called \u201cmy precious\u201d? Well, that\u2019s precisely what I would translate this French nickname to: \u201cmy precious\u201d.<\/p>\nThough we don\u2019t use the word \u201ctreasure\u201d the way French people do, it\u2019s easy to see why they would use a term associated with jewels and precious stones to talk about the people they cherish.<\/p>\n
French terms of endearment for friends<\/h2>\n6. Mon gros<\/em> (my fat one)<\/h3>\nYes, I know we are not supposed to talk about people\u2019s weight. But believe me; this French nickname is actually positive. In English, its nearest equivalent is \u201cbro\u201d, and it is one of the most commonly used French nicknames for friends among young people.<\/p>\n
7. Mon saucisso<\/em>n (my sausage)<\/h3>\nI swear this French term of endearment does not mean what you\u2019re thinking. Much like mon tr\u00e9sor<\/em>, it\u2019s a nice slang term that French people use to address a loved one.<\/p>\n\u201cBut what do sausages have to do with anything?\u201d<\/p>\n
According to L\u00e9a, the saucisson <\/em>is a very popular in France. Actually, there are different names for different types of sausages: saucisson sec<\/em>, for a salami-type sausage; saucisse de foie<\/em>, for liver sausages; andouilles<\/em>, for a spicy, cold-smoked sausage made of pork tripe... Okay, you get the point.<\/p>\nIn short, if you want to let a friend know that they mean the world to you, just say they are a saucisson<\/em>.<\/p>\n8. Mon plaisir quotidien<\/em> (my daily pleasure)<\/h3>\nWe may not have this French nickname in our vocabulary, but doesn\u2019t it make complete sense that other people do? If you have one of those friends who\u2019s always there for you and can also make you laugh for hours, use this French term of endearment to let them know how much joy they bring into your life.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/pexels-helena-lopes-708440.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
French terms of endearment for family<\/h2>\n9. Ma puce <\/em>(my flea)<\/h3>\nSausages, fleas, fat people, what\u2019s up with these French nicknames? *sighs*<\/p>\n
Puce <\/em>is a feminine word and, according to our star French teacher, it\u2019s one of the most popular French terms of endearment for friends and children.<\/p>\nYes, I said a feminine word, <\/em>but this doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t use it with men. It\u2019s just that, in Romance languages such as Spanish and French, there is something called grammatical gender. But I had better leave that for a different article.<\/p>\nOh, by the way, you can say ma puce<\/em>, or use one of its diminutive varieties for extra cheesiness:<\/p>\nma pupuce<\/em> (f) \u2014 tiny, little flea<\/p>\nma petite puce<\/em> (f) \u2014 little flea<\/p>\nmon petit monstre<\/em> (my little monster)<\/p>\nYou would tell your small child that he is a monster, right? Well, if you had been born in France, you most probably would.<\/p>\n
In France, parents say mon petit monstre<\/em> to tell their sons and daughters that they\u2019re cute little creatures.<\/p>\n10. Mon lutin<\/em> (my elf)<\/h3>\nA variation of mon petit monstre<\/em>, mon lutin<\/em> is also used with children to say that they are as adorable as Dobby from the Harry Potter series.<\/p>\n11. M\u00e9m\u00e9 <\/em>(Granny)<\/h3>\nAccording to L\u00e9a, there are many French terms of endearment to use with grandmas, but not all of them might be welcome by modern French women. If you\u2019re planning to travel to Paris to visit your grandmother for the first time since you were a little flea, it\u2019s better to call her M\u00e9m\u00e9 <\/em>as opposed to Memere <\/em>(which reads like \u201cold woman\u201d). Other acceptable options are Mamie <\/em>and, of course, the more formal Grand-maman<\/em>.<\/p>\n\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial French Lesson With a Native Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\nDo you want to go beyond French terms of endearments and learn how to use French idioms, learn about French business etiquette, or just improve your speaking skills? Contact us now<\/a> and we\u2019ll design a tailor-made course taught by a native teacher to help you reach your learning goals in no time.<\/p>\nDo you want to know what the best part is? The first lesson is completely free, with no strings attached. What are you waiting for? Get started today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Cookie Bear, Honey Bee, Apple Pie… Outside their natural context, English nicknames can seem extremely corny or just plain weird. But let\u2019s be honest: how many times have we resorted to them to say \u201cI\u2019m sorry\u201d, or just to express our love? \u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial French Lesson With a Native Teacher!\u2190 Terms of(\u2026)<\/p>\n
One of the funniest things about French terms is how different they are from their nearest English equivalents.<\/p>\n One of the most untranslatable French nicknames out there, doudou <\/em>refers to a toddler\u2019s most cherished, unable-to-let-go item, usually a teddy bear or a blanket.<\/p>\n \u201cBut L\u00e9a\u2026 Doudou? What does that even mean? Where does it come from?\u201d<\/p>\n According to L\u00e9a, doudou <\/em>is a slang term in some African countries, including the West Indies, that people use to casually refer to a girlfriend or a wife. As a French nickname, however, you can use it for both men and women.<\/p>\n In Spanish, people say \u201cmi media naranja<\/em>\u201d (half an orange); in Italian, \u201cla mia dolce met\u00e0<\/em>\u201d (my sweet half); in English, \u201cmy better half\u201d. Seriously, what is up with romantic love? Shouldn\u2019t we see ourselves as complete beings?<\/p>\n Yes, I know. Completely off-topic.<\/p>\n Anyway, according to L\u00e9a, this is one of the most popular nicknames for a boyfriend or a girlfriend, and you can also use it with your best friend to mean something like \u201cmy partner in crime\u201d.<\/p>\n For once, we have a perfect, equally common counterpart in English. Yay!<\/p>\n Not so fast, Juan.<\/em><\/p>\n What? Who\u2019s speaking? Oh, L\u00e9a, I had forgotten you were here.<\/p>\n Apparently, the French ch\u00e9rie <\/em>is a bit more complex than its English equivalent. There\u2019s ch\u00e9rie<\/em>, ch\u00e9ri<\/em>, cher<\/em>, ch\u00e8re<\/em>, and of course, there is the singer Cher, but again, that would be a bit off-topic.<\/p>\n So let\u2019s just focus on French nicknames for the time being:<\/p>\n (If you think this is way too complicated for a blog about French nicknames, kindly address your complaints to L\u00e9a\u2026)<\/p>\n Do you remember Gollum, from The Lord of the Rings<\/em> series, who devoted his whole life to looking after a ring he called \u201cmy precious\u201d? Well, that\u2019s precisely what I would translate this French nickname to: \u201cmy precious\u201d.<\/p>\n Though we don\u2019t use the word \u201ctreasure\u201d the way French people do, it\u2019s easy to see why they would use a term associated with jewels and precious stones to talk about the people they cherish.<\/p>\n Yes, I know we are not supposed to talk about people\u2019s weight. But believe me; this French nickname is actually positive. In English, its nearest equivalent is \u201cbro\u201d, and it is one of the most commonly used French nicknames for friends among young people.<\/p>\n I swear this French term of endearment does not mean what you\u2019re thinking. Much like mon tr\u00e9sor<\/em>, it\u2019s a nice slang term that French people use to address a loved one.<\/p>\n \u201cBut what do sausages have to do with anything?\u201d<\/p>\n According to L\u00e9a, the saucisson <\/em>is a very popular in France. Actually, there are different names for different types of sausages: saucisson sec<\/em>, for a salami-type sausage; saucisse de foie<\/em>, for liver sausages; andouilles<\/em>, for a spicy, cold-smoked sausage made of pork tripe... Okay, you get the point.<\/p>\n In short, if you want to let a friend know that they mean the world to you, just say they are a saucisson<\/em>.<\/p>\n We may not have this French nickname in our vocabulary, but doesn\u2019t it make complete sense that other people do? If you have one of those friends who\u2019s always there for you and can also make you laugh for hours, use this French term of endearment to let them know how much joy they bring into your life.<\/p>\n Sausages, fleas, fat people, what\u2019s up with these French nicknames? *sighs*<\/p>\n Puce <\/em>is a feminine word and, according to our star French teacher, it\u2019s one of the most popular French terms of endearment for friends and children.<\/p>\n Yes, I said a feminine word, <\/em>but this doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t use it with men. It\u2019s just that, in Romance languages such as Spanish and French, there is something called grammatical gender. But I had better leave that for a different article.<\/p>\n Oh, by the way, you can say ma puce<\/em>, or use one of its diminutive varieties for extra cheesiness:<\/p>\n ma pupuce<\/em> (f) \u2014 tiny, little flea<\/p>\n ma petite puce<\/em> (f) \u2014 little flea<\/p>\n mon petit monstre<\/em> (my little monster)<\/p>\n You would tell your small child that he is a monster, right? Well, if you had been born in France, you most probably would.<\/p>\n In France, parents say mon petit monstre<\/em> to tell their sons and daughters that they\u2019re cute little creatures.<\/p>\n A variation of mon petit monstre<\/em>, mon lutin<\/em> is also used with children to say that they are as adorable as Dobby from the Harry Potter series.<\/p>\n According to L\u00e9a, there are many French terms of endearment to use with grandmas, but not all of them might be welcome by modern French women. If you\u2019re planning to travel to Paris to visit your grandmother for the first time since you were a little flea, it\u2019s better to call her M\u00e9m\u00e9 <\/em>as opposed to Memere <\/em>(which reads like \u201cold woman\u201d). Other acceptable options are Mamie <\/em>and, of course, the more formal Grand-maman<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial French Lesson With a Native Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\n Do you want to go beyond French terms of endearments and learn how to use French idioms, learn about French business etiquette, or just improve your speaking skills? Contact us now<\/a> and we\u2019ll design a tailor-made course taught by a native teacher to help you reach your learning goals in no time.<\/p>\n Do you want to know what the best part is? The first lesson is completely free, with no strings attached. What are you waiting for? Get started today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Cookie Bear, Honey Bee, Apple Pie… Outside their natural context, English nicknames can seem extremely corny or just plain weird. But let\u2019s be honest: how many times have we resorted to them to say \u201cI\u2019m sorry\u201d, or just to express our love? \u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial French Lesson With a Native Teacher!\u2190 Terms of(\u2026)<\/p>\nIs there anything more essential to our survival than our beating hearts? Though this French nickname is not frequently used in English, it is the ultimate term of endearment in le langage de l'amour. <\/em>Oh, and the best thing is that you can also use it for your children!<\/p>\n2. Doudou (My\u2026 cuddly thing? Blankie?)<\/h3>\n
3. Ma moiti\u00e9 (My other half)<\/h3>\n
4. Ma ch\u00e9rie (my darling)<\/h3>\n
\n
5. Mon tr\u00e9sor <\/em>(My treasure)<\/h3>\n
French terms of endearment for friends<\/h2>\n
6. Mon gros<\/em> (my fat one)<\/h3>\n
7. Mon saucisso<\/em>n (my sausage)<\/h3>\n
8. Mon plaisir quotidien<\/em> (my daily pleasure)<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nFrench terms of endearment for family<\/h2>\n
9. Ma puce <\/em>(my flea)<\/h3>\n
10. Mon lutin<\/em> (my elf)<\/h3>\n
11. M\u00e9m\u00e9 <\/em>(Granny)<\/h3>\n