mon amour
The English phrase 'my love' is translated into French as mon amour.
mon amour is a term of endearment used to address someone you love. It can also function as a noun phrase referring to the concept of love itself.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the possessive adjective mon (my) and the noun amour (love).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, the term ma puce, which literally translates to 'my flea', is also used as a term of endearment between partners.
How does it change in a sentence?
Even when addressing a woman, the masculine form mon amour is used. This is because the possessive adjective agrees with the masculine noun amour rather than the gender of the person being addressed.
When do people say it?
An informal way to express affection by saying 'my heart' is to use mon cœur.
Did you know?
- While mon amour is classic, French speakers often use mon chou, which literally means 'my cabbage'. This term of endearment likely refers to the small cream puffs called chou à la crème rather than the vegetable.
- The French language has a distinct word amour-propre to describe a specific type of 'self-love' that refers to one's sense of dignity or self-esteem rather than narcissism.
- The phonetic evolution of amour was actually influenced by Old Occitan, a language from Southern France, which shaped how the word sounds today.
Examples in context
- Mon amour est éternel.My love is eternal.This sentence shows how to use mon amour to refer to the concept of love.Tatoeba #6576959 by GB3, translation #6576730 by Eccles17
- Ne sois pas si fâché, mon amour.Don't be so angry, my love.This sentence shows how to use mon amour as a direct address to a person.Tatoeba #5381758 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #11201647 by Lebensfreude
- Je n'ai pas encore osé déclarer mon amour.I have not yet dared to declare my love.This sentence shows how to use mon amour as a noun phrase referring to the concept of love.Tatoeba #8487410 by Aiji, translation #2998375 by AlanF_US
- Bonjour, mon amour. Je t'aime plus que tout.Hello, my love. I love you more than anything.
- Bonsoir, mon chéri. Tu es la personne la plus importante dans ma vie.Good evening, my dear. You are the most important person in my life.
- Salut, mon cœur. As-tu passé une bonne journée?Hi, my love. Did you have a good day?
- Bonjour, ma biche. Comment s'est passé ton après-midi?Hello, my love. How was your afternoon?
- Je t'aime, ma puce. Tu me rends tellement heureux(se).I love you, my love. You make me so happy.
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are saying goodbye before a long trip.
- ManonPromets-moi de faire attention, mon amour.Promise me you will be careful, my love.
- GabrielJe te le promets, Manon.I promise you, Manon.
- ManonTu vas me manquer terriblement.I am going to miss you terribly.
- GabrielMoi aussi, mon amour.Me too, my love.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amour, mon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
