I love Kristin Espinasse's French-word-a-day newsletters, both for the vocabulary lessons and the stories of French life.

In the spirit of la Fête des Amoureux (yesterday's word!), I thought I'd share this link that provides a whole list of unique French terms of endearment! Maybe we can all try these out on our sweethearts today!

I also have a French word-a-day calendar. My word today is "aveugle" (which I already have in my vocabulary due to the blind poodle we took care of last year... notre caniche aveugle). My phrase for today is "L'amour est aveugle!"

Kathy

"Ma petite crotte" does not mean my little sausage, but my little turd. Don't be shocked; in French we take a more liberal attitude towards things scatalogical. There are very good small, hard cheeses called crottes or crottins.

Mmm, crottins de chèvre.

We use a lot of rural metaphores to express affection, tenderness,love and endearment.

Ma poule( my hen)Mon lapin( my rabbit) mon poussin( my chick)Mon chou( my cabbage) and
Ma poulette( my Little hen)
Feel free to use them with your French friends as soon as you have broken the ice!

I love mon petit chou for my children. ALthough my teenage daughter doesn't like being called a little cabbage!