mon petit chou
mon petit chou is the French way to say "my little cabbage".
This phrase is an affectionate term of endearment used for a loved one, such as a child or a partner. While chou literally means cabbage, in this context it functions as a common term of endearment similar to "sweetie" or "darling".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of mon (my), petit (little) and chou (cabbage).
Which one should you use?
You can also use the shortened form mon chou to mean "my cabbage". This version retains the same affectionate meaning as the full phrase.
Did you know?
- The term is part of a peculiar French tradition where one can be called a 'flea' to show affection. For instance, a woman might be called ma puce, which translates to 'my flea', to express endearment.
- While you might expect to call a woman ma petite chou, you must always say mon petit chou regardless of the recipient's gender. The grammatical gender of the cabbage dictates the possessive pronoun, not the gender of the person you love.
- The word chou comes from the Latin caulis, which is related to the Ancient Greek word kaulós.
Examples in context
- Salut mon p'tit choupinet! Comment ça va?Hi, my little cabbage! How are you?
- Tu es mon petit chou.You are my little cabbage.
- Bonne nuit, mon petit chou.Good night, my little cabbage.
- Viens ici, mon petit chou.Come here, my little cabbage.
Example conversation
A couple saying goodbye before work in the morning.
- EmmaAu revoir, mon petit chou.Goodbye, my little cabbage.
- NathanÀ ce soir, Emma.See you tonight, Emma.
- EmmaPasse une bonne journée.Have a good day.
- NathanMerci, toi aussi.Thanks, you too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chou, mon, petit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
