French Terms of Endearment: The Full List, by Category
Every French pet name worth knowing - animals, food, precious things - organized by category, with gender forms and pronunciation.
French terms of endearment span animals (ma puce, mon lapin), food (mon chou, ma crevette), and precious things (mon trésor, mon ange, mon cœur). Most safely universal: mon amour, mon cœur, mon chéri/ma chérie - see our essentials guide for the top 12.
Quick answer
French terms of endearment span animals (ma puce, mon lapin), food (mon chou, ma crevette), and precious things (mon trésor, mon ange, mon cœur). Most safely universal: mon amour, mon cœur, mon chéri/ma chérie - see our essentials guide for the top 12.
Learn every term of endearment with native audio. Get it on the App Store or Google Play.
Want just the essentials? See the essential 12 terms of endearment for a shorter, curated list.
Animal pet names
ma puce (flea), mon lapin (rabbit), mon poussin (chick), ma biche (doe), mon chaton (kitten), ma caille (quail - regional).
Food pet names
mon chou (cabbage/cream puff), ma crevette (shrimp - for kids), mon sucre d’orge (barley sugar), ma fraise (strawberry - dated/regional).
Precious-thing pet names
mon trésor, mon ange, mon cœur, ma perle (pearl), mon bijou (jewel).
Playful/childlike pet names
mon bébé, mon doudou, ma crapule (rascal - affectionate despite the meaning), mon coco/ma cocotte.
Classic pairs
mon chéri/ma chérie, mon amour, ma moitié.
Regional and generational notes
Some terms feel dated (ma fraise) or regional (ma caille) - worth knowing but not necessarily using unprompted. For the grammar behind why these are always mon, even for a woman, see mon amour and the euphony rule.
Every sweet word, correctly pronounced
LexiFr teaches French vocabulary with nuance and native audio - even the affectionate ones.
Free to start - no ads, no streak guilt. Your first 200 words are waiting.
Questions about this note
What does ma puce mean as a pet name?
"My flea" - genuinely affectionate, common for children and partners.
What are food-based French pet names?
mon chou (cabbage/cream puff), ma crevette (shrimp, for kids), mon sucre d'orge.
Is mon chéri or ma chérie for a man or woman?
mon chéri for a man, ma chérie for a woman.
Are some French pet names dated?
Yes - a few (like ma fraise) feel more generational or regional than others.
What's the safest universal French pet name?
mon amour or mon cœur.