amants
The French word for lovers is amants.
amants refers to two people in a romantic or sexual relationship. In modern French, the term amant often carries a connotation of a sexual partner outside of a formal or committed marriage, similar to the English word paramour. While the word can be used to describe a mixed-gender couple, it specifically emphasizes the sexual or romantic nature of the relationship.
Which one should you use?
While amants emphasizes the romantic or sexual connection, the word couple is more neutral when describing two people in a relationship.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular form is amant.
When do people say it?
When addressing a partner directly, instead of using terms for lovers, speakers often use terms of endearment such as mon amour (my love) or mon cœur (my heart).
Did you know?
- In certain historical contexts, amant could be used to describe a 'favorite' or a person who enjoyed the patronage of a monarch, not necessarily in a sexual way.
- To reduce the purely sexual connotation of amant in poetry, French writers often pair it with the adjective tendres to create the phrase tendres amants, which emphasizes emotional sweetness.
- Calling your spouse mon amant in public might cause a misunderstanding, as it sounds like you are announcing that you are having an affair with them.
Examples in context
- C'est un de ses nombreux amants.He's one of her many lovers.This sentence shows how to describe someone as one of many amants.Tatoeba #5288743 by Blabla, translation #5288745 by mailohilohi
- Nous étions amis avant d'être amants.We were friends before we were lovers.This sentence is useful for illustrating the transition from being friends to being amants.Tatoeba #12461231 by lbdx, translation #6312306 by Hybrid
- Nous sommes rapidement devenus amants.It wasn't long before we became lovers.This sentence demonstrates how a relationship can quickly result in becoming amants.Tatoeba #10506502 by lbdx, translation #6540926 by Hybrid
- Ils sont de grands amantsThey are great lovers.
- Viens ici, mon chériCome here, my darling.
- Les tourtereaux se promènent main dans la mainThe lovers walk hand in hand.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are discussing a dramatic novel.
- LéaL'histoire raconte la vie de deux amants.The story tells the life of two lovers.
- GabrielEst-ce qu'ils sont heureux, ces amants ?Are these lovers happy?
- LéaNon, leur passion est trop dangereuse.No, their passion is too dangerous.
- GabrielC'est vraiment une tragédie.It is truly a tragedy.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
