Reading books by authors from different countries always gives me a subject to talk about in the blog. I might not have noticed if I had been reading the book, but after listening to an audio book by Jill Mansell, the differences in terms of endearment jumped out at me.
I have always been fascinated by regional and country etymology especially expression of love, probably brought on by being called pumpkin and sweet pea by my mother. I mean really pumpkin? However doing some research I found that the language of love is filled with fruit, vegetables and animals and even an insect. While there are many common endearments like these:
English
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French
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Spanish
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Greek
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Sweetheart
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cheri
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Cariño,
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Gluka mou (my heart)
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angel
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Babe
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love,luv
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mon amour
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Mi Amor
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Agapi mou
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The French have some quite unique terms such as: ma biche (my doe),ma caille ( my quail, informal),mon canard(my duck),mon chou,( my cabbage),mon cochon (my pig), mon coco (my egg),mon poulet (my chicken),ma puce (my flea,informal). French cooking is famous, so I wonder if the names come from their love of food. While I wouldn’t raise too much off a fuss with my duck or quail, I draw the line at pig and flea. A woman has to have her standards. While there are no French speaking men in my life, maybe I better memorize these two, just in case.
Mmmmmmm, the Spanish language has some very romantic terms with Corazoncito (My Heart), Mi Cielo (My Heaven /Sky),Mi Querida / Mi Querido (my dear) Cuchura / Cuchuras (sweetie). Although, I would have to pass on Bomboncito (marshmallow). While my heart is very tempting, I would love to be someone’s heaven.
So what about English love words? Here in the South, babe, honey, sweetheart, sugar, and darlin’ (yes without the g) are pretty common. I have been even known to use cutie pie or sweetie, but usually when interacting with children. I don’t know about other regions of the country. People from the North, the West and other regions will need to be sure and post if I missed some.
From across the pond, I’ve found love or luv, pet (which was the word used in the book I was reading) hinny, chuck and doll. I know that there are people from Europe, Canada, and Australia that visit. Please post and tell me which terms people use in real life. I always wonder how accurate the books are.
Of course these words really only have significance if used by people who love each other. I can’t tell you the numbers of times I have been called “hon”, or “sweetheart” or “sugar” by a perfect stranger. Most of the time it bothers me, but I can’t honestly say I would take offense being called “luv” by someone with an English accent. But I suspect that is only because it is unique. And apparently those to whom it is not unique with disagree with me, as BBC has an article about nurses being told to stop using “dearie”, and “love” because it isn’t respectful.
Come on guys, tells what names you use in public (you can keep the bedroom ones a secret). How about family love names? Is it unique to your family? I found that pumpkin is not that unique. Have you come across a unique expression of love in a novel?
– Leigh Davis
From a message board, I found Greek names seem more romantic and less food oriented (although there is my pigeon and doughnut). Latreia mou (my adorable one), Psychi mou (my soul), Peristeraki mou (my pigeon/dove) and Loukoumaki mou (my little doughnut). Wow, some very romantic sounding names. . . I could easily get use to being called my adorable one, or my heart.
Are all of these articles written you or did you hire a writer?
I know this could be confusing for some people, but I’m sure the manufacturers know what they are doing. People like to speculate on different things when it comes to baby cribs, but the most important thing is the quality…
I’ve loved this post and all the comments. I’ve lived in the South for the past [almost] 25 years but it seems that my endearment vocabulary hasn’t been effected as much as I would have thougth. When my daughter was little my primary endearment for her was Angel Buttons – no idea where it came from, it just popped out and stuck. My son was Boy and a made up name that I don’t even know how to spell. Now, my grandchildren are [singularly] Love & Baby and many othes unique to the child or [collectively] The Amazing Ones & The Incrediible Ones. My husband and I use Honey, Sweetie, Babe and once in a great while Dear.
Growing up in Texas I heard a lot of “”honey””, “”darlin'””, “”sweetheart”” and “”sugar””. I am a nurse, and I try not to, but when you have 10 surgical patients a night, sometimes endearments like “”hon”” or “”doll”” get used.
With my family and friends I use “”sugar”” and “”sweetheart””. I call my husband “”babe””. My daughter is “”puddin'”” (no g), or “”sunshine””. My nephew is “” baby boy”” or “”angel face””. He hates “”angel face”” so I try not to call him that often.
For some reason I’ve never understood we use endearments a lot more in the South.
Darling, Honey for partners. Also Gorgeous, or Hey Gorgeous. And my parents picked up Mein Schatz (my treasure) from Germany in the 1960s for partners and I’m not sure where they picked up babykinsa or bubbakinsa for children but I suspect it may have something to do with Kinder, the German for children. Also Big Ears and Giggling Gurtie for children.
Hi! I’m from Costa Rica and we use:
Mi cielo (My heaven), Mi vida (My life), Mi amor (My love)
My father used to call my daugthers “”little dolls”” (munequitas). And my family use “”bebecito/bebecita”” for the newborns.
My husband called me “”chiquilla”” when we started to date, so I always melt when I read the hero call his heroine “”little one””
In reference to an “”Everybody Loves Raymond”” episode that had us both in tears with laughter, my husband and I call each other Jelly Cheeks and Banjo Pants. It is a combination of endearment and sarcasm. I call my boys all kinds of names all the time like sweetness or cutie, but they were both huge babies, so I mostly call them Bubba.