bonjour mon amour
In French, the phrase "hello love" is translated as bonjour mon amour.
The phrase bonjour mon amour is a romantic greeting used specifically to say hello to a partner or spouse.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bonjour (hello/good day), mon (my) and amour (love).
Which one should you use?
While the English "hello love" can sometimes be used more casually in certain British dialects, bonjour mon amour is a much more intense and specific romantic greeting for a partner.
How does it change in a sentence?
The possessive adjective mon is used because amour is a masculine noun, even if the person being addressed is female.
Did you know?
- While bonjour mon amour is for partners, French has a separate category of 'affectionate' nouns like ma puce (my flea) or mon chou (my cabbage) that are used similarly but are not literally romantic.
- In France, calling a stranger mon amour is not romantic but can be seen as overly familiar or condescending, similar to calling a stranger 'honey' or 'sweetie' in English.
- The word amour shares a common root with the English word 'amorous', which describes someone driven by romantic or sexual desire.
Examples in context
- Salut mon amour.Hi, my love.
- Coucou ma chérie.Hey, my darling.
- Salut mon cœur.Hi, sweetheart.
- Bonjour mon amour, tu as bien dormi ?Hello love, did you sleep well?
- Bonjour mon amour, je t'aime.Hello love, I love you.
- Bonjour mon amour, passe une bonne journée.Hello love, have a good day.
Example conversation
Chloé greets Nathan in their kitchen in the morning.
- ChloéBonjour mon amour, tu es prêt ?Hello love, are you ready?
- NathanOui, je finis juste mon café.Yes, I am just finishing my coffee.
- ChloéDépêche-toi, on va être en retard.Hurry up, we are going to be late.
- NathanJ'arrive tout de suite, ma chérie.I am coming right now, my darling.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amour, bonjour, mon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
