mon bien-aimé
The English phrase "my beloved" is translated into French as mon bien-aimé.
mon bien-aimé is a term of endearment used to refer to a person who is dearly loved.
Which one should you use?
While mon bien-aimé is poetic and heavy, mon chéri is the much more common, natural way to say "my darling" or "my dear" in everyday conversation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
mon bien-aimé has a poetic, literary or highly formal tone and is rarely used in casual, everyday spoken French. For informal ways to address a beloved, you might use Mon Amour (meaning "my love") or Ma Puce (which literally translates to "my flea").
How does it change in a sentence?
Use the feminine form ma bien-aimée if the person being addressed or referred to is female.
Did you know?
- The word mon has a distant relative in the Gaulish language, which was spoken by the people in France before the Romans arrived.
- Using 'beloved' in French often carries a religious undertone, as it is frequently used in prayers and hymns.
- The term mon bien-aimé is so formal and poetic that using it in a modern casual date might be perceived as ironic or overly dramatic.
Examples in context
- Tu es tout pour moi, mon Cœur.You mean everything to me, my heart.
- Ma Puce, tu es la plus belle personne que je connaisse.My flea, you are the most beautiful person I know.
- Je dédie ce poème à mon bien-aimé.I dedicate this poem to my beloved.
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are saying goodbye at the train station.
- HugoJe vais regretter ton absence, mon bien-aimé.I will miss your absence, my beloved.
- ManonJe reviendrai très vite, Manon.I will come back very soon, Manon.
- HugoPromets-le moi, s'il te plaît.Promise it to me, please.
- ManonJe te le promets.I promise it to you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
