French word

chéri

Pronunciation

IPA/ʃeʁi/

Meaning

  • masculine nounsweetheart

Example

Mon chéri m'a appelé hier soir.

My sweetheart called me last night.

Illustration for chéri (sweetheart)

More examples

Je prépare un dîner pour mon chéri ce soir.

I am preparing dinner for my darling tonight.

Core concept

A beloved person kept close in affectionate speech.

Common phrases

  • mon chéri

    my darling

  • ma chérie

    my darling

Similar words

petite amie: A girlfriend in a romantic relationship.
petit ami: A boyfriend in a romantic relationship.
amour: A fond way to address someone who is loved.

Definition in French

S'emploie pour s'adresser à la personne qu'on aime ou pour parler d'elle de façon tendre.

Word origin

French chéri is the substantivized past participle of chérir, ultimately related to Latin carus, meaning dear or beloved.

Usage tips

  • The masculine noun is chéri, while the feminine form is chérie, as in mon chéri and ma chérie.

Other meanings

  • darlingnoun
  • dearadjective

Related words

Word lists with this word