A comedic slip of the tongue — which saw Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau accidently call Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe "mon amour" — stole the imagination of the internet during Friday's French-language leaders' debate.

Trudeau meant to call the Bloc leader "my friend" — "mon ami" — but ended up telling Duceppe that he was his love. The slip-up happened during sparring between the two leaders who were debating anti-terrorism Bill C-51.

Trudeau immediately caught his mistake, stammered and laughed it off, but the internet was quick to jump on the error.

It was only a short time before #monamour was trending across the country

Proud to live in a country where our politicians express their love for each other during debates. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OhhhCanada?src=hash">#OhhhCanada</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MonAmour?src=hash">#MonAmour</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn42?src=hash">#elxn42</a> —@dtfisch

<a href="https://twitter.com/MacleansMag">@MacleansMag</a> Trudeau calling Duceppe <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MonAmour?src=hash">#MonAmour</a> may very well be the funniest moment in the history of Canadian politics —@SteveOFarrell3

TRUDEAU CALLED DUCCEPE MY LOVE I AM DONE GOODBYE 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 —@ShesSoHabs

And Trudeau just declared his love for Duceppe. Now I've seen everything. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/faceafaceTVA?src=hash">#faceafaceTVA</a> —@neldygermain

Initially, Duceppe seemed a little stunned by the slip-up

The unique split-screen format of the debate allowed viewers to see Duceppe's immediate reaction to Trudeau's words. Many chose to capture the moment through the magic of a screen shot and share it widely on social media.

That look on your face when <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau">@JustinTrudeau</a> calls you "mon amour" (my love) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn42?src=hash">#elxn42</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/debatdeschefs?src=hash">#debatdeschefs</a> <a href="http://t.co/58QMHDE9Zk">pic.twitter.com/58QMHDE9Zk</a> —@iMarcusRM

It prompted some users to dream up a love story between the two leaders

There were jokes, fresh takes on playground songs and even some hastily made fan art chronicling the exchange.

<a href="https://twitter.com/realdavesommer">@realdavesommer</a> If <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn42?src=hash">#elxn42</a> produces one true love story, this might be it. —@joyandwoe

Justin and Gilles, Sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/faceafaceTVA?src=hash">#faceafaceTVA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/monamour?src=hash">#monamour</a> —@PierreCasto

At least one user was convinced that Trudeau's 'love' went beyond Duceppe ...

Trudeau now called Duceppe 'Monsieur Mulcair' after calling him 'mon amour.' does Trudeau love Mulcair? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/monamour?src=hash">#monamour</a> —@rjvandrish

... while others thought the slip-up worked in the Liberal leader's favour

With his <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/monamour?src=hash">#monamour</a> remark <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau">@JustinTrudeau</a> has just won the vote of everyone who ever called a teacher "Mom". <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn42?src=hash">#elxn42</a> —@palau93

Great to see Trudeau has such a good sense of humour and can laugh at himself! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/monamour?src=hash">#monamour</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn42?src=hash">#elxn42</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/faceafaceTVA?src=hash">#faceafaceTVA</a> —@ChocolateGuitar

At the debate's end, Trudeau even took to Twitter to squash any rumours

He cheekily referenced the incident, telling his wife Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau not to worry and that she is his love.

Ne t'inquiète pas Sophie... C'est bien toi <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MonAmour?src=hash">#MonAmour</a>. —@JustinTrudeau

It wasn't the only slip-up of the night, with Duceppe mistaking central banker Mark Carney for dead actor Art Carney

Earlier in the evening, the mix-up roles were reversed.

It was Trudeau who corrected Duceppe after he kept referring to Mark Carney, the former governor of the bank of Canada, now governor of the Bank of England, as Art Carney, the deceased American actor famous for his role as Ed Norton on The Honeymooners.

That mess-up also got Twitter thinking wishfully.

An independent Quebec WILL have Art Carney as the governor of its central bank. —@ikenney

Not watching <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/faceafaceTVA?src=hash">#faceafaceTVA</a> but from what I gather on Twitter, Art Carney is doing well. Can we vote for him? —@jduncanhansen

For the first time ever, Art Carney gets mentioned in a Canadian leader's debate. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/faceafaceTVA?src=hash">#faceafaceTVA</a> —@jsbroadhurst

One TV host combined the two, summing up all the debate gaffes in one Twitter photo