French Words for My Love | 45+ French Terms of Endearment

Growing up in France, I was called all sorts of things by my parents, cousins, even complete strangers in shops. It was only when I started learning other languages that I realised how particular those French words for my love were, and how much they meant to me. I tried translating a few into English for my husband, and they just fell flat. The reverse is true as well: I cannot bring myself to call him “miel” in French, even though “honey” works perfectly in English.

What I can do, though, is share some of these French terms of endearment with you, so you can pass them on to your Francophile friends or simply use them in French with the people you love.

How the French do it

The French have what feels like an entire farmyard, greengrocer, and pastry shop’s worth of affectionate nicknames, and they use them freely. Partners, kids, close friends, and sometimes even colleagues get swept up in this vocabulary if the mood is right.

If you are new to French culture, brace yourself. At some point you will be someone’s cabbage. You might be their flea. You could easily end up their shrimp too. And somehow it all sounds tender rather than insulting.

In French, using diminutives and slightly silly words is one of the normal ways to show affection. Where an English speaker might hesitate to call a grown partner “my little chicken,” a French speaker will say it quite casually. It does not feel childish or over the top; it is just another way of being close.

The language itself encourages it, with its love of diminutives. Add “‑ette” or “‑ou” and suddenly a word is smaller, cuter, more precious: “poule” becomes “ma poulette,” “loup” becomes “mon loulou.” French almost dares you to make things adorable.

The animals

A lot of French terms of endearment come from animals, not grand creatures like lions or eagles, but small, familiar ones.

“Ma puce” (my flea) is everywhere. It sounds odd in English, but in French it is one of the warmest little words you can use for a child, partner, or close friend. The idea is tiny, jumping and always stuck to you. Once you stop picturing an actual flea, it is really very sweet.

“Mon lapin” or “ma lapine” (my rabbit) is common for couples and carries a hint of flirtation; rabbits have a certain reputation, after all. “Ma biche” (my doe) is softer and more romantic. “Mon chat” or “ma chatte” (my cat) works too, though “ma chatte” has a double meaning you may want to be aware of before using it. “Mon chaton” (my kitten) is a safer, universally tender version.

Then there is the whole poultry aisle. “Ma poule” (my hen) has a cosy, maternal feel and is often used by older women. “Mon poulet” (my chicken) suits children nicely. “Ma cocotte” is a playful “little hen” and can be used for friends or kids. “Mon poussin” (my chick) is nearly always for small children.

Birds in general do well: “mon canard” (my duck), “ma tourterelle” (my turtledove), “ma colombe” (my dove), even “mon pigeon.” If it waddles or coos, there is a good chance somebody in France has turned it into a pet name.

The food

If the animal kingdom wasn’t enough, French words for love also plunder the pantry.

“Mon chou” is the big one. Literally, “my cabbage.” It sounds ridiculous in English, but in French it is about as standard as “sweetie.” People often say it is short for “chou à la crème,” a cream puff, which helps. Either way, if someone calls you “mon chou,” you are firmly in their inner circle.

“Mon petit chou” and “mon bout de chou” tend to be reserved for children, and they are incredibly common. “Ma crevette” (my shrimp) is another favourite for little ones, small and a bit wriggly. “Ma cerise” (my cherry), “ma fraise” (my strawberry), “ma praline,” anything small and sweet can be turned into an affectionate label.

“Mon bonbon” (my candy) and “mon sucre d’orge” (my barley sugar) go all-in on sweetness. “Mon petit pain” (my little bread roll) feels wonderfully French; only in a country that loves bread this much could that sound romantic.

The classics

Of course, not everything is barnyard animals and vegetables. The French have plenty of straightforward romantic terms too.

“Mon chéri” and “ma chérie” are everywhere, probably the most universal French endearments. “Mon amour” (my love) is as simple and direct as it gets. “Mon cœur” (my heart) is very tender and leans more romantic.

“Mon ange” (my angel), “mon trésor” (my treasure), “ma perle” (my pearl), “mon étoile” (my star) have a poetic feel without being overblown. “Ma belle” and “mon beau” (my beautiful) are very common and work well for partners.

“Ma princesse” is used for daughters and partners, “mon prince” for sons or partners. “Ma reine” and “mon roi” (my queen, my king) turn the drama up just enough to be fun.

The quirky ones

Then there’s a whole category of french terms of love that don’t quite translate at all. These are pure French linguistic playfulness.

“Mon doudou” is huge. A “doudou” is originally a security blanket or stuffed toy, but the word has expanded to cover pretty much any loved person. Partners use it, parents use it, and it always sounds cosy.

“Mon loulou” and “ma louloute” are equally common, no one really knows where they came from, but they are everywhere. You will even hear things like “mon loulou d’amour” for extra softness.

“Bébé” obviously means baby, but between adults it is used constantly as well, probably more than many learners expect. “Ma poupée” (my doll) is often for girls or women, in a similar way to “sweetheart.”

The rest are more niche and often very local or family-specific: “ma nenette,” “ma nana,” “mon kiki,” “ma bibiche,” “ma chipie” (for a cheeky girl). For children, especially in the south, “mon pitchoun” is very common, as is “mon ti‑bout” (my little bit).

A word of warning for learners

If you are learning French and want to try some of these out, it is worth starting gently with these french words for love. “Mon chéri / ma chérie,” “mon amour,” or even “mon cœur” are safe, classic choices. “Doudou” is also fairly soft and warm without being too intimate in the wrong context.

Leave “mon petit chou,” “ma puce,” or “ma crevette” for people you are truly close to, and definitely not for colleagues. The same goes for anything with a strong animal or food image; they can sound very odd if your pronunciation is off. There is something about being called “my shrimp” in heavily accented French that not everyone will find charming.

That said, most French people genuinely enjoy it when non-native speakers try out these little phrases. Even if you feel ridiculous calling someone your little cabbage, they will usually be touched that you are willing to play along with this very French way of being affectionate.

If you want to understand more about how the French use language affectionately
If this side of French culture fascinates you, there is a whole world behind it. The way the French use language to show warmth, set distance, or create intimacy is the subject of a fantastic book called The Bonjour Effect by Julie Barlow and Jean‑Benoît Nadeau. It is not a grammar book; it is more of a guide to the hidden rules of French conversation, including when and how these affectionate words appear.

Over to you

Personally, “ma puce” has always been my favourite. It is small and silly and soft all at once. “Ma belle” is my go‑to for the women I love in my life: neighbours, family, friends. They really are beautiful, inside and out, and the phrase fits. At least now you have a little toolbox of French words for “my love” if you ever find yourself in France for Valentine’s Day, or simply want to add a bit of French tenderness to your everyday life.

What about you? Tell me, have you been called any of these by a French person? And have any romantic French words successfully made it into your English vocabulary? Share your stories in the comments!

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