mon cher ami
The English phrase "my dear friend" is translated into French as mon cher ami.
mon cher ami is a warm and affectionate way to address or refer to a close friend.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of mon (my), cher (dear) and ami (friend).
Which one should you use?
The masculine form mon cher ami is used for a male friend, whereas ma chère amie is used for a female friend.
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing or referring to a female friend, use ma chère amie. If you are addressing or referring to a group of female friends, use mes chères amies.
Did you know?
- While cher means 'dear' in an affectionate sense, it is also the standard word for 'expensive'. A French speaker might describe a luxury car as cher using the same root as the affection in mon cher ami.
- In modern French, calling someone mon cher ami can sometimes sound ironically formal or even slightly condescending if the tone is too stiff, rather than purely warm.
- The word cher shares the same ancient root as 'desire' and 'wish', highlighting that a 'dear' friend is someone held in deep longing or value.
Examples in context
- Mon cher ami !My dear friend!This sentence shows how to use mon cher ami as an exclamation.Tatoeba #1281367 by sacredceltic, translation #3631514 by thegui
- Je vous crois sur parole, mon cher ami.I'll take your word for it, my dear friend.This sentence demonstrates using mon cher ami within a statement.Tatoeba #3225134 by nimfeo, translation #11817210 by calypsow
- Je vous ai maintenant dit toute la vérité, et si je n'ai rien dit à la police, c'est parce que je ne réalisais pas le danger dans lequel mon cher ami était.I have told you now the whole truth, and if I withheld it from the police it is because I did not realise then the danger in which my dear friend stood.This sentence shows how to refer to a person using the form mon cher ami in the context of a description.Tatoeba #13343911 by genes1s, translation #7025717 by Hybrid
- Mon cher ami, j'espère que tu passes une excellente journée.My dear friend, I hope you're having an excellent day.
- Ma chère amie, je suis honoré de te connaître.My dear friend, I feel honored to know you.
Example conversation
Lucas and Léa are greeting each other at a cafe.
- LucasBonjour, mon cher ami ! Ça fait longtemps.Hello, my dear friend! It has been a long time.
- LéaC'est vrai, Lucas ! Je suis ravie de te voir.It's true, Lucas! I am delighted to see you.
- LucasComment vas-tu depuis tout ce temps ?How have you been all this time?
- LéaTout va très bien, merci !Everything is going very well, thank you!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ami, cher, mon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
