Most Common French Terms of Endearment

The French people are big on endearments. They are just too fond of cutesy nicknames or referring to the people they love in a way that can only be called extra.

France is synonymous with all things romantic. From the city of love of Paris to the romantic French songs and love quotes – the French people embraced terms of endearments like no other. 

If you are learning French and wondering why it is said to be the love language, their love expressions should tell you why.

Common French Terms of Endearment

From sweet to cute to bizarre, here is a quick guide on the French endearments. 

Romantic French Endearments for girlfriend/ boyfriend/ spouse

Looking for a different way to refer to your loved ones than the usual darling, honey, sweetie, or sweetheart? Find out what these words are in  French! Here are some endearments for you.

Mon amour – my love

Mon amour is used whether you’re referring to a man or a woman. In French, mon is the masculine version of “my,” but it can also be used before any word that starts with a vowel, including feminine words.

Therefore, you could say “Bonjour mon amour” if you wanted to say  “Good morning, my love.”

Mon chéri/ Ma chérie – my dear/my darling

Another popular term that you often hear in French-speaking countries, mon chéri is said to men while ma chérie is said to women. 

This endearment can be used, not only for your romantic partner but also for other close loved ones.

Mon coeur – My heart

This is said to be the second most popular French endearment. This translates to “my heart” but many French people use it in the way the English-speaking world says “my sweetheart”. 

Ma moitié – My other half

This endearment refers to a “partner in crime,” or “main squeeze,” whether it’s a best friend, girlfriend, or boyfriend.  

Beau/ Belle – beautiful

Unlike in English where the word “beautiful” has distinct feminine connotations, the word is used on both men and women in French.  The masculine word for “beautiful” in French is beau, and the feminine is belle.

The masculine form is usually translated as “handsome” in English when referring to a man.  Both beau and belle can translate as “beautiful”.

Beau and Belle aren’t used much unless you put them into a sentence, such as Bonjour mon beau (to a man) and Bonjour ma belle (to a woman) in French. 

French Endearments for Children

Using a French endearment to a child is a great thing to add to your everyday conversations. Here are some sweet endearments in French to use if you’re stumped on what to call your kids.

You may also add “mon petit” or “ma petite,” depending on the gender of the next word, to make the endearment even cuter.

French Endearments for kids

• Mon bébé / Mon petit bébé – my baby
• Mon amour / Mon petit amour  – my love
• Mon chou / Mon petit chou –  translates to “my cabbage” or “my cream puff”
• Mon rayon de soleil / Mon petit  rayon de soleil – my ray of sunshine
• Mon coeur / Mon petit coeur – my heart
• Mon ange / Mon petit ange – my angel
• Mon trésor / Mon petit trésor – my treasure
• Mon poussin / Mon petit poussin – my little chick (as in baby chicken)
• Mon chéri, ma chérie / Mon petit chéri, ma petit chérie – my dear or my darling

French Pet Names/ Nicknames for kids

• My bear – mon ours
• Bichette / ma bichette – My little doe (Girls)
• Chaton – ‘Kitten (Boys and girls) 
• Champion / petit champion – champ / champion (Boys)
• Poupée – babydoll. Do not ever use it to refer to older girls
• Princesse, Cendrillon – Princess / ‘Cinderella’ (Girls) 
• Mon mignon – My cutie, or my little cute one
• Ma fraise – My strawberry 

Unique French Endearment

True to its reputation as the language of love, French has a variety of endearments that you can use to call your loved one. From the truly sweet and romantic ones to those that involve food and even animals, here are some unique endearments in French to take note of. 

• Mon ciel étoilé – my starry sky. Used for someone you’re in awe of, someone you find exquisitely beautiful or enchanting.
• Mon coco – this literally means coconut, but for the French, this is a cute way to say “my darling”.
• Ma crevette / Mon crevette – literally means “my shrimp”. It is the French way of saying “munchkin” or “my munchkin”.
• Mon lutin – my elf. For that person you find cute and adorable.
  
• Mon plaisir quotidien – my daily pleasure. Best for that person whose presence means a lot to you.
  
• Mon saucisson – another French endearment that involves food. This one translates to “my sausage” and a fun way to refer to a loved one.
• Ma petite sirène – my little siren/mermaid. This one is used for a female you adore, whether it’s a friend or girlfriend.
  
• Mon sucre d’orge –  my candy cane. A fun and unique way to refer to someone you adore, like a friend or a lover. This is the French term for “sweetie” or “sweetheart”.
• Mon trognon – this translates to “my fruit core” and no, this doesn’t mean the seed. This is simply the French way of saying “you’re the apple of my eye”. 

Animal-related French Endearment

Apart from foods, the French also have a fondness for endearment terms involving animals. Some of these may sound strange for English speakers, but for the French, this is their way of expressing that they find someone adorable or sweet. 

• Ma biche / ma bichette – my doe or my little deer (female only)
  
• Mon chaton – my kitten in my little kitty
  
• Ma coccinelle –  ladybug. Only used on girls and women.
  
• Mon lapin – my bunny. Typically used on young boys and males, but can also be a cure endearment for females.
• Mon loulou / mon loup – my wolf. Can only be said to men or boys. If you want to use this for a dear female friend, you say ma louloutte.
• Mon nounours – my little teddy bear. A sweet term to use on your son, husband, or boyfriend, but never to a lady.
• Mon caneton – My duckling
  
• Mon colibri – my hummingbird. This is the French for ” my sweetie”.
  
• Ma colombe – my dove / my little dove.
  
• Mon petit oiseau – my little birdie. A unisex endearment for a friend or lover. 

Want to learn more French phrases? Check out our language guides below:

• Happy Mother’s Day In French
• 6 Ways To Say Merry Christmas In French
• Happy New Year In French
• Happy Valentines Day In French
• 5 Ways To Say Cheers In French