amouracher
Monday, February 13, 2006
Happy Fête des Amoureux*--or Valentine's Day! Don't miss today's column where you will learn more than a dozen ways to say "darling" in French.
amouracher (a-moor-a-shay) verb; s'amouracher de = to become infatuated with, to fall head over heels in love
Les Mots Doux ~ Terms of Endearment
It may seem strange that the French, widely regarded as one of the most sophisticated and beautiful people on the globe, use some of the most strange (and not so beautiful) terms to refer to their belle/beau (loved one). Take, for example, "ma puce" which means "my flea" (very popular here); also "mon chou" or "my cabbage" (beau, n'est-ce pas?). Here are a few more original ways to say sweetheart:
mon amour (mohn a-moor) = my love
mon bébé (mohn bay-bay) = baby
ma belle (mah bel) = my beautiful (one)
ma biche (mah beesh) = my doe
ma caille (mah kahy) = my quail
mon canard (mohn ka-nar)= my duck
ma chérie/mon chéri (mah/mohn shay-ree) = my dear
mon chou* (mohn shoo) = my cream puff (sweetie-pie, cupcake)
mon coeur (mohn ker) = my sweetheart
mon lapin (mohn la-pahn) = my rabbit
ma moitié (mah mwa-tyay) = my half
mon poulet (mohn poo-lay) = my chicken
mon trésor (mohn tray-zor) = my treasure
mon poussin (mohn poo-sahn) = my chick
ma puce (mah poose) = my (little flea)
mon sucre d'orge (mohn sookr-dorzh) = my barley sugar
ma petite crotte (mah pteet crot) = my little turd
..........................French Vocabulary.........................
la fête des amoureux = the lovers' celebration; une toquade (f) = crush. Read about Max's crush in the book Words in a French Life--coming May 2nd!
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Some related "heart" expressions:
un coup de coeur = a spontaneous attraction (to someone or something)
vider son coeur = to reveal one's feelings
Do you see the heart? And, talk about in theme: that's passion fruit!
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I have a friend whose beloved is Japanese. He calls her "Ma jaune". It would not be pc in the USA. But is so dear in French.
Posted by: Ahulani | Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 04:30 AM
I am looking for a complimentary french term, beginning with an "F", for a friend who is turning 50.
She is wonderful, thoughtful, patient, mischievous, wise, a leader, fun-loving but conservative, and she would do anything for you. She is intelligent and fashionable, family-oriented, and with a goal in mind,focused.
Any thoughts besides fripon or fripouille?
Posted by: Annette | Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 03:33 PM
@Annette: I'm not sure "fripon" or "fripouille" is the best choice. If you want to reveal how special is this person you might want to chose one of these: fabuleuse, fantastique, formidable.
Posted by: Alex | Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 12:44 AM