80+ Sweet, Cute & Funny French Terms of Endearment to Show Love

Who doesn’t love hearing words of affection in different languages? Whether you’re looking for terms of endearment to use with a French-speaking partner, friend, or some other loved one, we’ve got many sweet, silly, and creative options for you to choose from. French terms of endearment are super varied, and some of them are unique, too; did you know that “little cabbage” (“mon petit chou”) is a popular French nickname? Read on for an extensive collection of French pet names and terms of endearment for loved ones of all shapes and sizes.

The Most Popular French Terms of Endearment

Mon amour - “My love.” It’s usually used in a romantic context.
Mon petit chou - “My little cabbage.” This can be an affectionate name for any loved one.
Mon chéri / Ma chérie - “My dear.” This sweet term of endearment works for romantic partners and friends.
Mon cœur - “My heart.” A popular romantic term that can also be used with close friends.
Mon bébé - “My baby.” This term can be used with children and babies or romantic partners.

Section 1 of 9:

Most Common French Terms of Endearment

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This very popular term of endearment simply means “my love.” Even though “mon” is the masculine form of “my,” any French word that starts with a vowel should use “mon” instead of “ma” (the feminine form of “my”). So, “mon amour” is correct no matter the gender of the loved one you’re talking to!^{[1]
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Ma chérie (F) or mon chéri (M) This sweet phrase amounts to “my darling, “my dear,” or “my sweetheart.” It has a masculine and feminine version—so say “ma chérie” to a female loved one and “mon chéri” to a male. You can also use this term of endearment for romantic partners or friends!^{[2]
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Mon cœur “Cœur” is French for “heart,” so this term of endearment means “My heart” (or, alternatively, “my sweetheart”). It’s most common as a romantic term, but you can use it with friends, too.
This term means “my baby.” It can apply to kids (as in your children or babies) or adults—like a romantic partner. Basically, it works for anyone you care about!^{[3]
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Mon chou (or mon petit chou) There are a lot of ways to say this term, but its basic meaning is “My cabbage” or “My little cabbage.” It’s a popular way to refer to anyone you love in French, from a spouse or partner to a child. It’s also related to the term “chou à la crème,” a type of cream puff. Different ways to say this include:^{[4]
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- Mon chou - My cabbage
- Mon petit chou - My little cabbage
- Chouchou - My little cabbage
- Mon choupinou - My cute little cabbage
- Ma choupette - My cabbage (female-only)
- Ma choupinette - My cute little cabbage (female-only)
- Ma chouchoute - My cute little cabbage (female-only)
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Ma beauté This means “My beauty.” Below, we also cover gendered terms “Mon beau” (for men) and “Ma belle” (for women), but “Ma beauté” can be used for any loved one, regardless of gender. Although it’s most often a romantic term, you can also use it with close friends or family members.^{[5]
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Mon bijou “Mon bijou” is French for “My jewel” (or, more literally, “My jewelry”). It’s a sweet way to tell someone how lovely and singular they are—and, of course, how much you care for them.
“Mon trésor” means “my treasure.” You can use it to address anyone important and special to you (like treasure), including romantic partners and family members (especially children).^{[6]
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Section 2 of 9:

Romantic French Terms of Endearment

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Want to whisper some sweet words to the person you’re head over heels in love with? A few choice French terms of endearment are intended for romantic relationships, and you can use them to remind your partner how much you love them. Use the following terms of endearment around a romantic partner of any gender:^{[7]
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- Ma moitié - My better half (or “my other half”)
- Mon doudou - My cuddle toy (similar to terms like “pookie”)
- L’amour de ma vie - The love of my life
- Ma raison de vivre - My reason for living
- Mon préféré (or mon indispensable) - My favorite
- Ma douce - My sweet
- Mon amoureux (M) or mon amoureuse (F) - My lover
- Mamour - My love (conjunction of “mon amour”)
- Mon autre - My other
- Mon Valentin - My Valentine
- Ma dulcinée - My sweetheart

Section 3 of 9:

Cute French Terms of Endearment

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You may not have heard of these French terms of endearment before, but they’re particularly adorable—and, best of all, they can be used with friends, family members, and spouses or romantic partners. If you like cutesy, super-sweet nicknames for your loved ones, try the following options in French:^{[8]
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- Mon ange - My angel
- Mon bonheur - My happiness
- Mon rêve - My dream
- Mon mignon - My cutie
- Ma puce - My flea (often used similarly to “honey” or “sweetie”)
- Mon étoile - My star
- Mon soleil - My sun
- Ma perle - My pearl
- Ma fleur - My flower
- Ma truffe - My truffle
- Mon cocotte - My pot

Section 4 of 9:

French Terms of Endearment for a Boyfriend

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Some French terms of endearment are meant to be used with people of a particular gender—which is why there are several cute nicknames specifically for a boyfriend or male spouse. Take a look at the following amorous French nicknames:^{[9]
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- Mon beau - My handsome
- Mon mec - My boyfriend
- Mon homme - My man
- Mon prince - My prince
- Mon Roméo - My Romeo (referring to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet)
- Mon roi - My king
- Mon preux chevalier - My valiant knight

Section 5 of 9:

French Terms of Endearment for a Girlfriend

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Just as there are French terms of endearment specifically for men, there are also plenty for women—from girlfriends to female spouses—too. You’ll notice that most of these terms are also feminine, using the possessive adjective “ma” instead of “mon.” That’s because when addressing someone in French, you should try to use the term that corresponds to their gender (if possible).^{[10]
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- Ma belle - My beautiful
- Ma nana - My girlfriend (informal)
- Ma coccinelle - My ladybug
- Ma poupée - My doll
- Ma cerise - My cherry
- Ma princesse - My princess
- Mon sucre d’orge - My little candy
- Ma rose - My rose
- Ma reine - My queen
- Ma déesse - My goddess

Section 6 of 9:

French Terms of Endearment for Friends

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Terms of endearment aren’t just for lovers—and there are just as many affectionate terms for a friend in French as in English! Whether you want to call your friend by a somewhat silly name (like “My groundhog”) or a serious and affectionate one (like “My rock”), check out the following French nicknames for friends:^{[11]
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- Ma choucroute - My sauerkraut
- Mon coco - My egg
- Ma marmotte - My groundhog
- Mon roc - My rock
- Ma loutre - My otter (usually for female friends)
- Ma quiche - My quiche
- Vieille branche - Old branch (for old friends)
- Bisounours - Carebear (for a sensitive or emotional friend)
- Mon gros (M) or ma grosse (F) - My fat one (This may sound rude, but it’s a positive and affectionate pet name for friends in France)

Section 7 of 9:

French Terms of Endearment for a Child

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Naturally, terms of endearment aren’t just romantic. There are plenty of cute things to call your child (or an important child in your life, like a niece, nephew, grandchild, or godchild). French terms of endearment for children include:
- Mon lutin - My elf
- Mon grand (M) or ma grande (F) - My big boy or my big girl
- Ma petite sirène - My little mermaid
- Ma fée - My fairy
- Mon p’tit bout - My little bit (often used for small children)
- Mon caneton - My duckling
- Mon vilain - My naughty one
- Mon petit monstre - My little monster
- Mon poussin - My chick (as in a baby chicken)
- Mon miracle - My miracle
- Ma lumière - My light
- Mon arc en ciel - My rainbow

Section 8 of 9:

Unique French Terms of Endearment

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There’s nothing wrong with trying out a unique or unusual term of endearment, especially since they can feel even more special (or silly) than the more common ones. Here are some creative and lesser-known French terms of endearment:^{[12]
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- Mon ciel étoilé - My starry sky
- Mon rayon de soleil - My ray of sunshine
- Mon coco - My coconut
- Mon saucisson - My sausage
- Mon plaisir quotidien - My daily pleasure
- Mon trognon - Apple of my eye (literally “My fruit core”)
- Ma mie - My crumb (referring to the soft part of bread)
- Ma crevette - My shrimp (like saying “My munchkin” or saying someone is little)

Section 9 of 9:

Animal-Related French Terms of Endearment

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Some of the most adorable terms of endearment are the ones referring to animals. Some you may have heard in English before (like “kitten” or “dove”), while others are a little more unusual—and more common in French (like “quail” or “rabbit”). Take a look at these French animal-inspired nicknames:^{[13]
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- Ma biche (or ma bichette) - My doe (usually female-only)
- Ma caille - My quail
- Mon chaton - My kitten
- Ma colombe - My dove (usually female-only)
- Mon colibri - My hummingbird
- Mon lapin - My rabbit
- Mon loulou (or mon loup) - My wolf
- Mon nounours - My little teddy bear (usually male-only)
- Mon petit oiseau - My little bird
- Mon poulet (M) or Ma poule (F) - My chicken (like saying “chickie”)
- Mon tigre (M) or ma tigresse (F) - My tiger