Terms of endearment

In many people’s eyes, French is the language of love. Yet how can this be, when most of the French terms of endearment are based on such unlovely and certainly unromantic objects? I regularly hear French mothers calling their children ‘Ma puce’ (my flea) in the fondest tones possible. And then there’s choux or cabbage, which apparently means cute.  And what about ma crotte (my dropping)?? Very romantic, I must say. The website which told me that little gem went on hastily to explain that ‘crotte’ can also mean a small round goat’s cheese. Oh well, that’s so much more romantic then.

Advertisement