cher
/ʃɛʁ/
The French word for "dear" is cher.
cher is used to describe someone or something that is loved or lovable. Depending on the context, it can also mean "expensive".
Meaning: loved, lovable (adj)
Which one should you use?
While cher can mean both "dear" and "expensive", the context of your sentence will clarify which meaning is intended.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the adjective changes to match the noun it describes: chère is used for feminine singular nouns, chers for masculine plural nouns and chères for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃɛʁ/
Did you know?
- In French, calling someone mon cher or ma chère can sometimes sound condescending or overly formal, rather than affectionate, depending on the tone of voice.
- The word 'charity' in English and 'charité' in French share a distant linguistic relative with cher, as both involve things held dear or precious.
- While cher means 'dear' in letters, French speakers rarely use it as a standalone pet name like 'Dear' or 'Honey' when speaking face-to-face with a partner.
Examples in context
- Mon cher ami !My dear friend!This shows how to use cher to address a dear friend.Tatoeba #1281367 by sacredceltic, translation #3631514 by thegui
- Merci, mon cher !Thank you, my dear.This shows a way to say thank you to someone you call cher.Tatoeba #1924312 by sacredceltic, translation #1923455 by Spamster
- Ce n'est pas cher.It's not dear.This demonstrates that cher can be used to mean something is not expensive.Tatoeba #12360 by engone, translation #11879181 by sundown
- 42 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel is writing a heartfelt letter to Léa.
- GabrielMa chère Léa, tu me manques.My dear Léa, I miss you.
- LéaC'est si gentil, mon cher Gabriel.That is so kind, my dear Gabriel.
- GabrielTu es très chère à mon cœur.You are very dear to my heart.
- LéaMoi aussi, je t'aime beaucoup.Me too, I love you very much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dear” translations and entries cher, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
