As in other languages, French has its own little words or names to call a loved one. How does calling your wife “My flea” sound to you? It’s one of the most popular French love nickname!

Click on the audio bar to play the audio and hear the French love nicknames.

There are other ways in French to show your love for someone than saying I love you – in French “je t’aime”. Why not use a French love nickname with your loved one?

Note that most of these French love names can be modified by “petit(e)”, making it even sweeter to talk to your loved one.

We very often add “mon petit” + masculine love nickname or “ma petite” + feminine love term to talk to a child.

I often call Leyla, our daughter “mon petit coeur” and Olivier calls her “ma petite puce” (my little flea !!! – no kidding, it’s a very popular love nickname in France).

1 – French Love Nicknames

Here is a list of French love nicknames which can be used for a man or a woman, a boy or a girl.

Mon amour – my love Mon ange – my angel Mon trésor – my treasure Mon coeur – my heart Mon canard – my duck – yes, I know… wait, it gets worse… Mon chou – my sweet bun (un chou à la crème is a cream filled puff pastry) – “mon petit chou” is also quite common Mon chouchou – comes from “mon chou” Doudou – no literal translation – it sounds very bad in English but we use it a lot in French! The origine is Creole French and it means sweety, darling… Mon lapin – my rabbit Mon poussin – my chick

Even though you’d be talking to a girl or a woman, you would still use “mon” here because the word it modifies is masculine.

I call my husband “Doudou”. I know it sounds really bad in English but it’s a very, very common love nickname in France.

2 – What Are the French Love Nicknames For Men?

All these French terms of endearment mean my darling more or less and are use to talk to men or boys.

Mon chat – my cat (do not say the final t) Mon chéri – my darling Mon beau – my beautiful one Mon choupinet – no translation – but comes from “mon chou” Mon gros – my fat one (I wouldn’t use this term of endearment with a child… or an adult actually… I don’t really care for it but it is used) Loulou – no translation but it probably comes from “loup” Mon loup – my wolf (I wouldn’t use this French term of endearment with a child) Mon ours – my bear (I wouldn’t use this French love term with a child) Mon nounours – my teddy bear (I wouldn’t use this French love name with a child) Minou – kitty Roudoudou – no translation although it was the name of a hard caramel candy… (I wouldn’t use this French love nickname with a child)

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3 – French Love Nicknames For Women

All these French terms of endearment are used to talk to women or girls and mean my darling more or less but – some have specific translations which are sooooo funny!! Can you imagine sweet naming your wife “my flea” or “my shrimp”? Give it a try and let me know how it turns out 🤣

Ma belle – my beautiful one Ma beauté – my beauty Ma biche, ma bichette – my doe Mon biquet, ma biquette – my goat kid Ma caille – my quail Ma chatte – my cat (be careful with this one as well : it means pussy, with exactly the same double meanings as it has in English) Ma chérie – my darling Ma choute – no translation – again comes from “mon chou” Choupinette – no translation – again comes from “mon chou” Ma cocotte – no translation but it has to do with hen Ma colombe – my dove Ma crevette – my shrimp (no, not the worse one) Ma gazelle – my gazelle Lolotte – no translation Ma mie (very very old fashion – I wouldn’t use that French love term with a child) Minette – kitty Moumoune – no translation (I wouldn’t use that French love name with a child) Ma poule, ma poulette – my hen Poupounette – no translation Ma Puce – my flea (yes, I know, it’s embarrassing) – also “Pupuce”… Very common love nickname in France… Actually that’s how Olivier call our daughter Leyla!! Ma sardine – my sardine (no comment) Ma souris – my mouse Mon sucre d’orge – my little candy

Olivier is quite conservative I guess… He calls me “ma chérie” or “mon amour”. I wouldn’t like to be called “ma chatte” but it’s very common in France – so is “ma puce”.

Now you are ready to surprise your loved one with some cute French love nicknames for Valentine’s Day.

And you? How do you call your loved ones? I’d love to know: let me know in the comments!

If you know more common French love terms, please add them in the comments and I will add them to this list (they need to be PC though).

Joyeuse Saint Valentin à tous !

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