Margaret Walker might have affectionately written, “My monkey wrench man is my sweet patootie,” about her husband in the late 70s, but English speakers aren’t the only ones who love turns into blubbering fools. Foreign languages of the world contain just as many sweet and silly terms of endearment.
This Valentine’s Day, why not forgo the “cupcakes” and “pumpkins” of English wooings past, and try whispering something alluringly unique into your true love’s ear? But please spare them the translationsדma petite puce” sounds much more romantic than “my little flea,” and they’ll never know the difference.
• Mon petit chou (French): My little cabbage
• Meine Zuckerschnecke (German): My sugar snail
• Meu docinho de coco (Portuguese): My little coconut treat
• Ich liebe dich, meine Schätzlein (German): I love you, my little treasure
• Ma cocotte (French): My hen
• Mi media naranja (Spanish): Half of my orange (my better half)
• Kimi no hitomi kanpai (Japanese): Cheers to your eyes (Here’s looking at you, kid)
• Gordita (Spanish): Little fatty (considered a very sweet way to describe a curvaceous woman)
• Darl’ (Australian English): short for Darling
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The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.