Je t'aime, mon chéri
The English phrase "I love you, my darling" is translated into French as Je t'aime, mon chéri.
This phrase is an expression of deep affection used to tell a romantic partner that you love them. While the core phrase Je t'aime can be used for both romantic love and deep affection for family, adding an endearing term like mon chéri or ma chérie specifically shifts the tone toward a romantic context. Other endearing terms you might use include mon amour (my love), mon trésor (my treasure), mon ange (my angel) and mon cœur (my heart).
Which one should you use?
In French, Je t'aime is used for both romantic love and deep affection for family, whereas adding mon chéri specifically shifts the tone toward a romantic context.
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing someone, you must choose the form that matches their gender: use the masculine form Je t'aime, mon chéri if you are addressing a man and use the feminine form Je t'aime, ma chérie if you are addressing a woman.
Did you know?
- While Je t'aime expresses love, adding the word bien to say Je t'aime bien actually weakens the sentiment, often meaning you simply 'like' the person.
- The word chéri has an unexpected connection to the Middle East, having been borrowed from Ottoman Turkish via Arabic. This means a term of deep French endearment actually has roots in the word for 'law' or 'religion'.
- To express a more passionate or soulmate-level love, French speakers might say Je t'aime à la folie, which literally means 'I love you to the point of madness'.
Examples in context
- Je t'aime, mon chéri, pour toujours.I love you, my darling, forever.
Example conversation
A couple is sharing a quiet moment at home.
- LéaTu es l'homme de ma vie.You are the man of my life.
- NathanEt toi, tu es ma vie entière.And you, you are my whole life.
- LéaJe t'aime, mon chéri.I love you, my darling.
- NathanMoi aussi, je t'aime, ma chérie.Me too, I love you, my darling.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chéri, je, mon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
