mon cher frère
The English phrase "my dear brother" is translated into French as mon cher frère.
mon cher frère is an affectionate way to address or refer to your own brother. In more casual settings, you may encounter the colloquial term frérot, which is an abbreviation of petit frère used to express affection.
Did you know?
- The word cher shares its ancient roots with the English word 'charity', as both stems originate from the idea of something being precious or highly valued.
- In modern French street slang, frère is often used as a generic term for a friend, similar to how English speakers use 'bro' or 'dude', regardless of actual kinship.
- While mon cher frère is affectionate, using mon cher alone to address a man you are not close to can sometimes sound condescending or patronizing in modern French.
Examples in context
- Mon cher frère, je t'admire énormément.My dear brother, I admire you greatly.
- Mon cher frère, tu me manques beaucoup.My dear brother, I miss you a lot.
- C'est pour toi, mon cher frère.This is for you, my dear brother.
- Écoute-moi, mon cher frère, c'est important.Listen to me, my dear brother, it's important.
Example conversation
Léa is giving a birthday card to her brother Hugo.
- HugoJoyeux anniversaire, mon cher frère !Happy birthday, my dear brother!
- LéaMerci beaucoup, Léa !Thank you very much, Léa!
- HugoJ'espère que tu aimes ton cadeau.I hope you like your gift.
- LéaC'est vraiment gentil de ta part.That is really kind of you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cher, frère, mon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
