bonjour chéri
In French, "hello darling" is expressed as bonjour chéri.
This phrase is an affectionate greeting used for a romantic partner or a loved one. Other endearing ways to say "hello darling" include the informal Coucou, mon trésor or the loving address Salut, mon chou, which literally translates to "my cabbage". You can also use the informal and tender Salut, ma puce.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase mon chou literally means "my cabbage".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The greeting becomes more casual and informal if you use salut instead of bonjour, as seen in salut mon chéri.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes based on the gender of the person you are addressing. Use bonjour chéri when the person is male, and use bonjour chérie when addressing a woman or a girl.
Did you know?
- Calling a partner ma puce is a very common way to say 'darling', even though it literally translates to 'my flea'.
- The endearing term mon chou refers to a small pastry called a chou à la crème, not just the cabbage vegetable.
- The word chéri shares a surprising historical connection to the Arabic word šarʕ, which refers to religious law or a path, having been filtered through Ottoman Turkish.
Examples in context
- Bonjour chéri, tu as bien dormi ?Hello darling, did you sleep well?
- Bonjour chéri, je suis déjà prête.Hello darling, I am already ready.
- Bonjour chéri, comment s'est passée ta journée ?Hello darling, how was your day?
Example conversation
Léa greets Hugo when he arrives home from work.
- LéaBonjour chéri, te voilà enfin !Hello darling, you are finally here!
- HugoBonjour, ma chérie. Je suis fatigué.Hello, my darling. I am tired.
- LéaTu veux un café, mon chéri ?Do you want a coffee, my darling?
- HugoOui, s'il te plaît.Yes, please.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonjour, chéri, CC BY-SA 4.0.
