French word for with love

French Love Language: L’Amour et l’Amitié

Express yourself in the language of love

If French is the language of love, what better language is there with which to express your love? Here are some key French words and phrases related to love, friendship, and special occasions. Click on the link to hear the word or phrase pronounced.

* Same pronunciation for masculine and feminine version.

French Terms of Endearment (Termes d’Affection)

French has all kinds of interesting terms of endearment, including a rather odd assortment of barnyard animals. Check out this list of French terms of endearment to use with your loved ones (both romantic and familial). For the most part, these all mean something along the lines of «sweetie,» «darling,» or «poppet,» so we’ve provided the literal translations as well as a few notes (in parentheses).

My love	mon amour
My angel	mon ange
My baby	mon bébé
My beautiful (informal)	ma belle
My dear	mon cher, ma chère
My dearie	mon chéri, ma chérie
My cutie	mon mignon
My Half	ma moitié
My little guy / girl	mon petit / ma petite
My doll	ma poupée
My heart	mon cœur
My little girl (informal, old-fashioned)	ma fifille
My big guy / girl	mon grand / ma grande
My Jesus (when talking to a child)	mon jésus
My treasure	mon trésor
My (fruit) core (when talking to a child)	mon trognon

Ma mie literally «my female friend,» but used to mean «my dear/love.»

This is a somewhat old-fashioned term contracted from mon amie > m’amie > ma mie. Note that mie also refers to the soft part of bread — the opposite of the crust.

Affectionate French Terms Related to Animals

Learn some playful French word for your loved ones.

Love Words Related to Food

My cabbage, my pastry (informal)	mon chou
My favorite, blue-eyed boy/girl, pet* (informal)	mon chouchou
My dropping (also refers to a small, round goat cheese)	ma crotte
My barley sugar	mon sucre d’orge

*as in «teacher’s pet»  

Notes About Modifiers

• The word petit (little) can be added in front of most of these: mon petit chou, ma petite chatte, etc.
• The phrase en sucre (made of sugar) can be added to the end of some: mon trésor en sucre, mon cœur en sucre, etc.

Note that the possessive adjectives mon and ma (my) have to agree with the gender of the term of endearment—not your own gender nor necessarily that of the person you’re talking to/about. Generally speaking, masculine terms of endearment can be used for men and women, while feminine terms of endearment can only be used for women.

Perfect Your Pronunciation: How to Say «I Love You» in French

They say that French is the language of love, so you’d better know how to say I love you! These step-by-step instructions will teach you how to say I love you in French.

Here’s How

1. Find the person you love.
2. Say his or her name.
3. Say je t’aime:
   • j in je is pronounced [zh] like the g in mirage
   • e is pronounced like the oo in good
   • t’aime is pronounced [tem] to rhyme with them.
4. Optional: Follow with «my darling»:
   • To a woman = ma chérie, pronounced [ma shay ree].
   • To a man = mon chéri, pronounced [mo(n) shay ree]. The (n) is nasal.
   • You can also choose a different French term of endearment
5. Optional: To respond to someone who says «I love you,» say Moi aussi, je t’aime (I love you too).
   • moi is pronounced «mwa.»
   • aussi is pronounced «oh see.»
6. You can listen to sound files of these terms on my page of French love language

What You Need

• A few minutes of practice
• A romantic location
• Your beloved
• (optional) candles, flowers, bonbons, soft music, an engagement ring…

English Expressions Using «Love»

The English word «love» is found in many different expressions. Here’s how to translate these phrases into French.

love affair (literal)	une liaison
love affair (figurative)	une passion
love at first sight	le coup de foudre
love child	un enfant d’amour un enfant illégitime un enfant naturel
love feast	une agape un banquet
love game (tennis)	un jeu blanc
love handles	poignées d’amour
love-hate relationship	un rapport amour-haine
love-in-a-mist (plant)	la nigelle de Damas
love-knot	les lacs d’amour
love letter	une lettre d’amour un billet-doux
love-lies-bleeding (plant)	amarante queue-de-renard
love life	la vie amoureuse ses amours
love match	un mariage d’amour
love nest	un nid d’amour un nid d’amoureux
love of one’s life	le grand amour
love potion	un philtre d’amour
love scene	une scène d’amour
love seat	une causeuse
love story	une histoire d’amour
love (in tennis)	zéro, rien
love token	un gage d’amour
love triangle	un triangle amoureux
loved ones	êtres chers
lovestruck	éperdument amoureux
brotherly love	amour fraternel
casual love affair	un amour de rencontre
courtly love	amour courtois
declaration of love	une déclaration d’amour
first love	son premier amour
free love	amour libre
in love (with)	amoureux (de)
labor of love	une tâche accomplie pour le plaisir
madly in love	fou d’amour
my love (term of endearment)	mon amour
physical love	amour physique
platonic love	amour platonique
puppy love	amour juvénile
true love	le grand amour
for the love of God	pour l’amour de Dieu
He loves me, he loves me not	Il m’aime un peu, beaucoup, passionnément, à la folie, pas du tout
How’s your love life?	Comment vont tes amours ?
I’d love to!	Avec plaisir ! Volontiers !
It can’t be had for love nor money.	C’est introuvable. On ne peut se le procurer à aucun prix.
Lucky at cards, unlucky in love	Heureux au jeu, malheureux en amour
not for love nor money I wouldn’t do it for love nor money.	pour rien au monde Je ne le ferais pour rien au monde.
Someone up there loves me.	C’est mon jour de veine.
There’s no love lost between them.	Entre eux, ce n’est pas le grand amour. Ils ne peuvent pas se sentir.
to do something for the love of it	faire qqchose pour l’amour de l’art
to do something out of love for	faire qqchose par l’amour pour
to do something with loving care	faire qqchose avec amour
to fall in love (with)	tomber amoureux (de)
to live on love alone	vivre / se nourrir d’amour et d’eau fraîche
to love	aimer
to make love	faire l’amour

In the English speaking world, we so often hear French referred to as ‘the language of love.’ And today we’re going to take some time to focus on that very subject – love. We’ll go over how to talk about love in French including how to talk about falling in love, and of course how to say ‘I love you’ in French.

Likewise, we’ll also go over some of the other words and phrases that you should know with l’amour (love) and aimer (to love).

Let’s start with the big words themselves. If you’re a Francophile then you’ve probably already heard this first expression plenty of times as a staple of every love song from Edith Piaf to Camille.

Je t’aime
‘I love you’

It’s three simple words, but there are few things to notice here. First, the word te (you) is nestled neatly between the subject je and the verb aimer. Second, the word te has been shortened to a simple t’ since it comes before a word starting with a vowel.

If you want to say ‘I love you’ in French to multiple people then you just swap out the word te for vous.

Je vous aime
‘I love you’

Just like the phrase je t’aime, the direct object vous has to come between je and the verb aimer.

Adding on to Your Love in French

When we feel strongly about someone, we rarely stop with just one simple sentence. And for French-speakers, it’s the same. One you’ve said that you love someone, then you can add onto that feeling with so many extra words to make it even sweeter. We’ve got a few here.

Je t’aime tellement
I love you so much

Je t’aimerai toujours
I’ll love you forever

Je t’aime plus chaque jour
I love you more each day

Je t’aime de tout mon coeur
I love you with all my heart

Of course, you might want to talk about your love without actually having to say the phrase je t’aime. You can also say that you’re crazy about someone or mad about someone. This expression is a bit tricky though since the adjective changes depending on the gender of the speaker.

Je suis folle de toi
I’m crazy about you (used by a woman)

Je suis fou de toi
I’m crazy about you (used by a man)

Falling in Love

Maybe we’ve got too fast here because before we are in love, we have to first ‘fall in love.’ It’s a great metaphor of something happening to us that comes off as inevitable as gravity and in French, the expression is actually the same. Francophones also refer to the experience as falling (tomber).

Just like when you say that you’re crazy about someone, the phrase changes according to the gender of the speaker. This time however you need to keep your eye on how both the adjective and the verb change.

Je suis tombé amoureux de toi.
I’ve fallen in love with you (said by a man)

Je suis tombée amoureuse de toi.
I’ve fallen in love with you (said by a woman)

You can see two differences between the two phrases. The feminine participle of tomber has an additional e afterwards. Likewise the adjective that describes being in love changes according to gender – amoureuse if a woman is speaking, and amoureux if it’s a man.

Further Sweet Nothings

It’s always good when we tell someone that we love them, but sometimes we want to be a bit more cute and a bit less serious. For that we have sweet nothings. Here are a few expressions that you can try out when you just want to flatter your sweetheart.

Je t’adore
I adore you

Tu me complètes
You complete me

Je t’ai dans la peau
I’ve got you in my skin

The last phrase may seem a bit odd and is a great example of why you should never translate a phrase literally. Although when you compare it to the English phrase ‘under my skin’ you can understand that idea of having a fixation on someone.

“I love it” and “I like it” in French

When we talk about love in English, we can refer to a lot of different things. You can say that a woman loves her husband, a child loves the beach and a musician loves to play their instrument. You’ll notice that all of these use the word ‘love’ to describe different feelings.

In French, something similar occurs as French speakers use aimer to describe romantic love as well as really liking something.

Jacques aime la musique
Jacques loves / really likes music

Le général aime la gloire et le pouvoir
The general loves glory and power

J’aime danser sur du jazz
I like to dance to jazz music

None of these examples express romantic love but all three use the verb aimer and sound natural to a French speaker. You can think of it this way, when you ‘love’ something that isn’t a person, you’re actually really liking it.

If you want so that you like something with a real intensity you can use the word adorer as well. This verb is a bit tricky and you have to pay attention to what’s being loved. The general rule is if you love something, then adorer is stronger. If you love someone, then aimer is stronger.

J’aime le chocolat
I like chocolate

J’adore le chocolat
I really like/love chocolate

Je l’aime
I love her/him

Je l’adore
I really like her/him

Saying I Like You in French

Now that you know that aimer means ‘to love’, it’s time to go a bit further. You should know that when you have the word aimer by itself it means love. However, adding on the little word bien at the end, you give the verb a totally different meaning.

If you translate the phrase aimer bien word for word you would get ‘to love well.’ So do you use it when you really love someone? No. And here’s the thing to look out for with aimer bien. It’s actually an idiom that you should use specifically when you don’t love someone romantically.

Je l’aime
I love her/him

Je l’aime bien
I like her/him a lot (as a friend, not romantically)

Adding on that bien doesn’t intensify the feeling but instead makes it more platonic and less passionate. The main character of the romantic comedy ‘La Fille Coupée en Deux’ uses this one to turn down her rather persistent suitor. When he asks tu m’aimes? (do you love me?) over and over, she answers je t’aime giving him a huge smile, only to dash his dreams by adding bien at the end.

Other French Words with Love

In English, we attach the word ‘love’ to so many things. We talk about love stories, we sing love songs and watch romantic comedies about love triangles. And it’s the same in French where you can affix the word l’amour or amoureux to most things to similar effect. Here are a few examples that have some pretty clear meanings.

Des chansons d’amour
Love songs

La folie de l’amour
The madness of love

Le grand amour
True love

Faire l’amour
To make love

Un triangle amoureux
A love triangle

Le choc amoureux
Moment of falling in love (literally ‘love shock’)

A Love Story or a Love Affair

In French people can also talk about une histoire d’amour. This is another phrase to look out for. At first glance, it looks like it could mean a kind of ‘love story.’ While every language has its quirks, this one is particularly worth noting because une histoire d’amour can mean either a ‘love story’ or a ‘love affair.’

How do you know the difference? There’s no real rule to the matter, so you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled because context is key.

Tu as ton histoire d’amour
You have your love story

Une histoire d’amour unilatérale
A one-sided love affair

Less Familiar Loves

Love stories and love songs may seem obvious, but there are quite a lot of compounds with l’amour that might be less familiar to you. For example la pomme d’amour is a snack you get at a carnival.

Take a look below so you know not to be confused when someone offers l’amour blanc at a restaurant.

Un tue-l’amour
A turn-off

La pomme d’amour
Candy apple

L’amour blanc
The grass carp

Les poignées d’amour
Love handles

Those Other Kinds of Love

Until now, we’ve been focusing on romantic love, but just like in English, the word amour can be used with other kinds of love. Many of these will probably be familiar to you already, but it’s always good to know them.

L’amour platonique
Platonic love

L’amour familial
Familial love

L’amour-propre
Self respect (literally ‘self love’)

A Little French Perspective on Love and Languages

Our last point about love in French is more about culture than words. In English, when we talk about the “language of love” most people’s minds conjure up an image of French before they even realize. So if French is the language of love in English, what is la langue de l’amour in French? Interestingly enough, it’s Italian.

That’s right, whenever you hear the expression la langue de l’amour used by a native French speaker, you can be confident that they’re talking about Italian.

Taking Your Love Words Further

And with that, you should have a firm grasp on what the French really mean when they talk about l’amour as well as several ways to describe your own love for something. That includes the romantic kind along with all the other kinds of love under the sun.

Do you often feel lonely and sad? Do you long for romance and are willing to do whatever it takes to meet that special person? Speaking another language could revolutionize your love life! So, why wait? Learning how to say ‘love’ in French could be just what you need to find it.

Or perhaps you were lucky, and have found your French partner already. Fantastic! Yet, a cross-cultural relationship comes with unique challenges. Learning how to speak your lover’s language will greatly improve your communication and enhance the relationship. At FrenchPod101, our team will teach you all the words, quotes and phrases you need to woo your French lover with excellence! Our tutors provide personal assistance, with plenty of extra material available to make French dating easy for you.

Table of Contents

1. Common Phrases You’ll Need for a Date
2. The Most Romantic Ideas for a Date
3. Must-know Valentine’s Day Vocabulary
4. French Love Phrases for Valentine’s Day
5. French Quotes about Love
6. Marriage Proposal Lines
7. 15 Most Common Break-Up Lines
8. Will Falling in Love Help You Learn French Faster?

Start with a bonus, and download the ‘How To be a Good Lover Cheat Sheet’ for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)

1. Common Phrases You’ll Need for a Date

So, you have met your French love interest. Congratulations! Who knows where this could take you…?! However, the two of you have just met and you’re not ready to say the French word for love just yet. Great, it is better to get to know him/her first. Wow your prospective love by using these French date phrases to set up a spectacular first date.

Would you like to go out to dinner with me?

• Tu veux aller dîner avec moi?

The important question! In most cultures, this phrase indicates: ‘I’m romantically interested in you’. Flirting in French is no different, so don’t take your date to Mcdonald’s!

Are you free this weekend?

• Tu es libre ce weekend?

This is a preamble to asking your love interest on a date. If you get an immediate ‘Yes’, that’s good news!

Would you like to hang out with me?

• Tu veux traîner avec moi?

You like her/him, but you’re not sure if there’s chemistry. Ask them to hang out first to see if a dinner date is next.

What time shall we meet tomorrow?

• On se voit à quelle heure demain?

Set a time, and be sure to arrive early! Nothing spoils a potential relationship more than a tardy date.

Where shall we meet?

• Où est-ce qu’on se retrouve?

You can ask this, but also suggest a place.

You look great.

• Tu es superbe.

A wonderful ice breaker! This phrase will help them relax a bit – they probably took great care to look their best just for you.

You are so cute.

• Tu es trop chou.

If the two of you are getting on really well, this is a fun, flirtatious phrase to use.

What do you think of this place?

• Qu’est-ce que tu penses de cet endroit?

This another good conversation starter. Show off your French language skills!

Can I see you again?

• Est-ce qu’on peut se revoir?

So the date went really well – don’t waste time! Make sure you will see each other again.

Shall we go somewhere else?

• On va ailleurs?

If the place you meet at is not great, you can suggest going elsewhere. It is also a good question to follow the previous one. Variety is the spice of life!

I know a good place.

• Je connais un bon endroit.

Use this with the previous question. However, don’t say if you don’t know a good place!

I will drive you home.

• Je vais te raccompagner en voiture chez toi.

If your date doesn’t have transport, this is a polite, considerate offer. However, don’t be offended if she/he turns you down on the first date. Especially a woman might not feel comfortable letting you drive her home when the two of you are still basically strangers.

That was a great evening.

• C’était une soirée géniale.

This is a good phrase to end the evening with.

When can I see you again?

• Quand est-ce qu’on se revoit?

If he/she replied ‘Yes’ to ‘Can I see you again?’, this is the next important question.

I’ll call you.

• Je t’appellerai.

Say this only if you really mean to do it. In many cultures, this could imply that you’re keeping the proverbial backdoor open.

Sneak Peek! Log in to Download this Cheat Sheet!

2. The Most Romantic Ideas for a Date

You learned all the French phrases to make a date – congratulations! Now you have to decide where to meet, which can be tricky. Discuss these options with your lover to gauge whether you like the same things. Check out romantic date ideas in French below!

museum

• musée

If you’re looking for unique date ideas that are fun but won’t break the bank, museums are the perfect spot! You won’t be running out of things to say in the conversations.

candlelit dinner

• dîner aux chandelles

A candlelit dinner is perhaps best to reserve for when the relationship is getting serious. It’s very intimate, and says: “Romance!” It’s a fantastic choice if you’re sure you and your date are in love with each other!

go to the zoo

• aller au zoo

This is a good choice for shy lovers who want to get the conversation going. Just make sure your date likes zoos, as some people dislike them. Maybe not for the first date, but this is also a great choice if your lover has children – you’ll win his/her adoration for inviting them along!

go for a long walk

• faire une longue promenade

Need to talk about serious stuff, or just want to relax with your date? Walking together is soothing, and a habit you can keep up together always! Just make sure it’s a beautiful walk that’s not too strenuous.

go to the opera

• aller à l’opéra

This type of date should only be attempted if both of you love the opera. It can be a special treat, followed by a candlelit dinner!

go to the aquarium

• aller à l’aquarium

Going to the aquarium is another good idea if you need topics for conversation, or if you need to impress your lover’s kids! Make sure your date doesn’t have a problem with aquariums.

walk on the beach

• marcher sur la plage

This can be a very romantic stroll, especially at night! The sea is often associated with romance and beauty.

have a picnic

• faire un pique-nique

If you and your date need to get more comfortable together, this can be a fantastic date. Spending time in nature is soothing and calms the nerves.

cook a meal together

• cuisiner ensemble

If you want to get an idea of your date’s true character in one go, this is an excellent date! You will quickly see if the two of you can work together in a confined space. If it works, it will be fantastic for the relationship and create a sense of intimacy. If not, you will probably part ways!

have dinner and see a movie

• dîner et voir un film

This is traditional date choice works perfectly well. Just make sure you and your date like the same kind of movies!

3. Must-know Valentine’s Day Vocabulary

Expressing your feelings honestly is very important in any relationship all year round. Yet, on Valentine’s Day you really want to shine. Impress your lover this Valentine’s with your excellent vocabulary, and make his/her day! We teach you, in fun, effective ways, the meanings of the words and how to pronounce them. You can also copy the characters and learn how to write ‘I love you’ in French – think how impressed your date will be!

4. French Love Phrases for Valentine’s Day

So, you now have the basic Valentine’s Day vocabulary under your belt. Well done! But, do you know how to say ‘I love you’ in French yet? Or perhaps you are still only friends. So, do you know how to say ‘I like you’ or ‘I have a crush on you’ in French? No? Don’t worry, here are all the love phrases you need to bowl over your French love on this special day!

I love you.

• Je vous aime.

Saying ‘I love you’ in French carries the same weight as in all languages. Use this only if you’re sure and sincere about your feelings for your partner/friend.

You mean so much to me.

• Tu comptes tant pour moi.

This is a beautiful expression of gratitude that will enhance any relationship! It makes the receiver feel appreciated and their efforts recognized.

Will you be my Valentine?

• Veux-tu sortir avec moi?

With these words, you are taking your relationship to the next level! Or, if you have been a couple for a while, it shows that you still feel the romance. So, go for it!

You’re so beautiful.

• Tu es si belle.

If you don’t know how to say ‘You’re pretty’ in French, this is a good substitute, gentlemen!

I think of you as more than a friend.

• Je vois en toi plus qu’un(e) ami(e).

Say this if you are not yet sure that your romantic feelings are reciprocated. It is also a safe go-to if you’re unsure about the French dating culture.

A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you.

• Une centaine de coeurs seraient trop peu nombreux pour transporter tout mon amour pour toi.

You romantic you…! When your heart overflows with love, this would be the best phrase to use.

Love is just love. It can never be explained.

• L’amour est simplement l’amour. Il ne pourra jamais être expliqué.

If you fell in love unexpectedly or inexplicably, this one’s for you.

You’re so handsome.

• Tu es si beau/belle.

Ladies, this phrase lets your French love know how much you appreciate his looks! Don’t be shy to use it; men like compliments too.

I’ve got a crush on you.

• J’ai le béguin pour toi.

If you like someone, but you’re unsure about starting a relationship, it would be prudent to say this. It simply means that you like someone very, very much and think they’re amazing.

You make me want to be a better man.

• Tu me donnes envie d’être un homme meilleur.

Gentlemen, don’t claim this phrase as your own! It hails from the movie ‘As Good as it Gets’, but it is sure to make your French girlfriend feel very special. Let her know that she inspires you!

Let all that you do be done in love.

• Que tout ce que tu fais se fasse dans l’amour.

We hope.

You are my sunshine, my love.

• Tu es mon soleil, mon amour.

A compliment that lets your lover know they bring a special quality to your life. Really nice!

Words can’t describe my love for you.

• Les mots ne peuvent pas décrire mon amour pour toi.

Better say this when you’re feeling serious about the relationship! It means that your feelings are very intense.

We were meant to be together.

• Nous sommes faits pour être ensemble.

This is a loving affirmation that shows you see a future together, and that you feel a special bond with your partner.

If you were thinking about someone while reading this, you’re definitely in love.

• Si vous pensiez à quelqu’un en lisant ceci, vous êtes certainement amoureux/amoureuse.

Here’s something fun to tease your lover with. And hope he/she was thinking of you!

5. French Quotes about Love

You’re a love champ! You and your French lover are getting along fantastically, your dates are awesome, your Valentine’s Day together was spectacular, and you’re very much in love. Good for you! Here are some beautiful phrases of endearment in French that will remind him/her who is in your thoughts all the time.

6. Marriage Proposal Lines

Wow. Your French lover is indeed the love of your life – congratulations! And may only happiness follow the two of you! In most traditions, the man asks the woman to marry; this is also the French custom. Here are a few sincere and romantic lines that will help you to ask your lady-love for her hand in marriage.

7. 15 Most Common Break-Up Lines

Instead of moving towards marriage or a long-term relationship, you find that the spark is not there for you. That is a pity! But even though breaking up is never easy, continuing a bad or unfulfilling relationship would be even harder. Remember to be kind to the person you are going to say goodbye to; respect and sensitivity cost nothing. Here are some phrases to help you break up gently.

We need to talk.

• Il faut qu’on parle.

This is not really a break-up line, but it is a good conversation opener with a serious tone.

It’s not you. It’s me.

• Ce n’est pas toi. C’est moi.

As long as you mean it, this can be a kind thing to say. It means that there’s nothing wrong with your French lover as a person, but that you need something different from a relationship.

I’m just not ready for this kind of relationship.

• Je ne suis simplement pas prêt(e) pour ce genre de relation.

Things moved a bit fast and got too intense, too soon? Painful as it is, honesty is often the best way to break up with somebody.

Let’s just be friends.

• Soyons seulement amis.

If the relationship was very intense, and you have sent many ‘i love u’ texts in French, this would not be a good breakup line. Feelings need to calm down before you can be friends, if ever. If the relationship has not really developed yet, a friendship would be possible.

I think we need a break.

• Je pense que nous avons besoin d’une pause.

This is again honest, and to the point. No need to play with someone’s emotions by not letting them know how you feel. However, this could imply that you may fall in love with him/her again after a period of time, so use with discretion.

You deserve better.

• Tu mérites mieux.

Yes, he/she probably deserves a better relationship if your own feelings have cooled down.

We should start seeing other people.

• Nous devrions commencer à voir d’autres personnes.

This is probably the least gentle break-up phrase, so reserve it for a lover that doesn’t get the message!

I need my space.

• J’ai besoin de mon espace.

When a person is too clingy or demanding, this would be an suitable break-up phrase. It is another good go-to for that lover who doesn’t get the message!

I think we’re moving too fast.

• Je pense que nous allons trop vite.

Say this if you want to keep the relationship, but need to slow down its progress a bit. It is also good if you feel things are getting too intense for your liking. However, it is not really a break-up line, so be careful not to mislead.

I need to focus on my career.

• J’ai besoin de me concentrer sur ma carrière.

If you feel that you will not be able to give 100% in a relationship due to career demands, this is the phrase to use. It’s also good if you are unwilling to give up your career for a relationship.

I’m not good enough for you.

• Je ne suis pas assez bien pour toi.

Say this only if you really believe it, or you’ll end up sounding false. Break-ups are usually hard for the receiving party, so don’t insult him/her with an insincere comment.

I just don’t love you anymore.

• Je ne t’aime plus tout simplement.

This harsh line is sometimes the best one to use if you are struggling to get through to a stubborn, clingy lover who won’t accept your break up. Use it as a last resort. Then switch your phone off and block their emails!

We’re just not right for each other.

• Nous sommes tout simplement pas faits l’un pour l’autre.

If this is how you truly feel, you need to say it. Be kind, gentle and polite.

It’s for the best.

• C’est mieux comme ça.

This phrase is called for if circumstances are difficult and the relationship is not progressing well. Love should enhance one’s life, not burden it!

We’ve grown apart.

• Nous nous sommes éloignés.

Cross-cultural relationships are often long-distance ones, and it is easy to grow apart over time.

8. Will Falling in Love help you Learn French faster?

Most people will agree that the above statement is a no-brainer – of course it will! Your body will be flooded with feel-good hormones, which are superb motivators for anything. FrenchPod101 is one of the best portals to help help make this a reality, so don’t hesitate to enroll now! Let’s quickly look at the reasons why falling in love will speed up your learning of the French language.

Three Reasons Why Having a Lover will Help you Learn French Faster!

1- Being in a love relationship with your French speaking partner will immerse you in the culture
FrenchPod101 uses immersive methods and tools to teach you French, but having a relationship with a native speaker will be a very valuable addition to your learning experience! You will gain exposure to their world, realtime and vividly, which will make the language come alive even more for you. The experience is likely to expand your world-view, which should motivate you to learn French even faster.

2- Having your French romantic partner will mean more opportunity to practice speaking
Nothing beats continuous practice when learning a new language. Your partner will probably be very willing to assist you in this, as your enhanced French language skills will enhance the relationship. Communication is, after all, one of the most important pillars of a good partnership. Also, you will get to impress your lover with the knowledge gained through your studies – a win/win situation!

3- A supportive French lover is likely to make a gentle, patient teacher and study aid!
With his/her heart filled with love and goodwill for you, your French partner is likely to patiently and gently correct your mistakes when you speak. This goes not only for grammar, but also for accent and meaning. With his/her help, you could sound like a native in no time!

Three Reasons Why FrenchPod101 helps you learn French Even Faster when you’re In Love

Start with a bonus, and download the ‘How To be a Good Lover Cheat Sheet’ for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)

1- All the Resources and Materials Will Help Both of You
Falling in love with a man or woman speaking French is an opportunity for both of you to learn a new language! For this reason, every lesson, transcript, vocabulary list, and resource at FrenchPod101 is translated into both English and French. So, while your partner can help you learn French faster, you can potentially also help him/her learn and master English!

2- Lessons Are Designed to Help You Understand and Engage with French Culture
At FrenchPod101, our focus is to help our students learn practical vocabulary and phrases used by everyday people in France. This means that, from your very first lesson, you can apply what you learn immediately! So, when your French partner wants to go out to a restaurant, play Pokemon Go, or attend just about any social function, you have the vocabulary and phrases necessary to have a great time!

3- Access to Special Resources Dedicated to Romantic French Phrases
You now have access to FrenchPod101’s specially-developed sections and tools to teach you love words, phrases, and cultural insights to help you find and attract your French soul mate. A personal tutor will assist you to master these brilliantly – remember to invite him/her to your wedding!

They say France is a romantic soul’s dream…  Makes you want to fly to Paris in a quest for love, with as a backdrop the Champs Elysée and Eiffel tower …

But how do the real French actually feel, and talk, about love ? Are they as romantic as in the movies and novels ?

Most of them aren’t.  Like everywhere else, things have changed.  Life is faster.  Cost of living is rising.  The French need to work hard to pay the rent.  They live with Google. Facebook. Uber. Meetic.

I don’t mean to burst your romantic bubble.  But let’s face it, even love has changed in France.

And so have French expressions for love.

Sure, the French language carries a wonderful romantic heritage.  But it’s now heavily influenced by external cultures and languages such as English and Arabic.

So what are the most common phrases and expressions the French use when talking about love nowadays ?  Read on to discover some of the all-time as well as newest and coolest French love phrases and the best words to express feelings of love in spoken French.

Whatever your style as a lover girl or boy, there’s probably something in there for you to use one of these days !

French expressions for love : the basics

Let’s start with a big classic, the mother of all French love phrases, something most people, including those NOT learning spoken French, know about : “Je t’aime”

Heard in countless movies, read in countless books. It’s hard to talk about love in spoken French without saying it at one point of another.

This is what a traditional “je t’aime !” sounds like :

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/1-je-taime.mp3

Now here’s a more down to earth version :

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/2-jtaime-tu-sais.mp3

The mere fact of adding “tu sais” at the end makes it much less dramatic.  It becomes sort of a reminder, a reassurance that you still love her after all this time.

(Note : in the rest of this post, I use as an example a man talking to a woman, but everything is obviously applicable to a woman talking to a man, or two persons of the same sex).

Let’s hear another variant,  “Je t’aime à la folie” :

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/3-je-taime-a-la-folie.mp3

That’s even more dramatic than the original “je t’aime”.  You’re crazy for her.  “Je t’aime à la folie” is almost as much of a classic as “je t’aime” itself.

“Je t’aime plus que tout” has perhaps less passion and insanity, but more true love and care

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/4-je-taime-plus-que-tout.mp3

You might equally say it to someone you’ve recently met or to someone you’ve known for a long time.  Again, it’s somewhat less passionate, but perhaps more durable and stable.

“Je t’adore” is another well-known French phrase for love.  The way you pronounce it will determine the level of either crazy passion or just plain friendly affection you feel for the person.

If you say :

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/5-je-tadore.mp3

You are likely passionately in love.  But if you say :

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/6-je-tadore-friends.mp3

It probably shows you’re very fond of the person, like a friend dear to your heart.

Here’s another one :  “Tu es l’amour de ma vie”, a passionate thing to say, the stuff romantic movies are made of :

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/7-tu-es-lamour-de-ma-vie.mp3

It’s a phrase that’s found abundantly in love books, songs and films.  I’ve included it in this repository of French phrases for love because you might some day choose to utter these words.

Beware though : this is powerful stuff, so make sure you pick the right occasion. And the right person.

Let’s start with “Tu me plais”, which is roughly equivalent to “I like you”.  As such it may denote physical attraction, but not always. Again, it really depends on the way you say it :

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/8-ah-tu-me-plais.mp3
/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/9-tu-nme-plais-fiston.mp3

Saying it in the sense of physical attraction is a direct and risky proposition.  Make sure you correctly assess the person’s reaction before you jump in…

“Je t’aime bien” is much less risky, as it can mean several things.  It may just indicate you’re fond of her as a person.  You could even say it to a colleague you see everyday.

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/11-jtaime-bien-toi.mp3

But it may also be a conservative manner of expressing something deeper.  Like if you’re an introverted person painstakingly revealing a secret feeling.

“J’ai un faible pour toi” is a soft, superficial, non-committing way of admitting a small crush in spoken French.  It’s often used when talking about someone else, such as when you’ve noticed someone has a crush on someone :

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/12-il-a-un-faible-pour-elle.mp3

A slightly stronger expression is “il en pince pour elle” :

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/13-il-en-pince-pour-elle.mp3

Here we’re talking about a bigger crush than juste “un faible” (a weakness).  It calls to mind images of someone constantly thinking about the person and doing everything he can to get close to her (or on the contrary to avoid her).

Just like “je t’aime bien”, “Je t’apprecie beaucoup” is double-faced :

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/14-jtapprecie-bcp.mp3

It may indicate plain fondness, but you can also use it to express deeper romantic interest without overly exposing yourself.  Tone of voice, eye contact, body gesture will help her distinguish the true nature of what you’re expressing.

French expressions for love : hip talk

Nowadays , “Je te kiffe” is used a lot by young — and young at heart — French speakers in romantic context.  “Kif” is an arab word for North African marijuana, and “kiffer” has become a spoken French verb that basically means getting high.

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/15-jte-kiffe.mp3

So what you’re telling the person is that he or she’s making you high.  It could probably translate to something like “I dig you” in colloquial English.

A word of caution, only use this “love” phrase if you’re a young person or have a young and hip enough style. Otherwise you may come across as an immature or insecure person trying to be cool.

Speaking of cool, “t’es trop cool” is another example of youth talk. Actually, any sentence that unduly includes “trop” (too much) typically has a youngster connotation in spoken French nowadays.

Why is that ? As the French population of North African descent has kept growing over the last decade, the French language has been influenced by lots of words, phrases and constructs used by the arab community.

Using “too much” instead of “very much” is one such constructs.  And it’s made it’s way into the mainstream language.

So nowadays, French kids and teens (and many adults as well) use “trop” (too much) as a superlative.  “T’es trop cool” really means “tu es très cool”.

Another very common example is “c’est trop bien !”, which literally means “it’s too good” but is really meant to say “it’s awesome”.

But I digress…  Let’s move on  to the next expression :

“Tu me fais flipper” : this French «love phrase» is not really specific to love talk, it means something like “you drive me nuts”.

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/17-tu-me-fais-flipper.mp3

Note that you may also use it when somebody announces to you something that really stirs you up.

A more “grown up” version of it would be the French love phrase “tu me rends fou/folle” or “tu me rends dingue”, which would translate to “you drive me crazy”.  Crazy love indeed…

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/18-tu-me-rends-dingue.mp3

Note these latter versions can also be used in other contexts than love talk, just like in English.  However if you say “tu me rends dingue” to someone while looking at them straight in the eyes, what you mean by that is likely to be clear to her !

French expressions for love : dating

“Tu veux sortir avec moi ?”  Just like in English, “sortir avec” (go out with) often refers to a date, or by extension to an ongoing romantic relationship.

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/19-tu-v-sortir-ac-moi.mp3

“On sort ensemble depuis 2 semaines” : [on sort ensemble depuis 2 semaines]

Another way of saying you are in a relationship is to say “on est ensemble”

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/20-on-sort-ensemble-depuis-2-semaines.mp3

A traditional but perhaps less engaging dating proposition is “tu veux dîner avec moi ?”

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/21-tu-v-diner-avec-moi.mp3

By default the person will probably think you’re asking her on a date, so if that’s not your intention you need to provide some additional clarifications about how, where and why.

Like in other languages, asking someone out to dinner carries less commitment than asking someone to go out with you in an general sense — basically asking to start an ongoing relationship.

French expressions for love : words to express feelings

Now let’s turn to how you declare your passion to someone using spoken French love phrases.

The most obvious and straightforward approach is to say “je suis amoureux de toi” (amoureuse if you’re a woman) :

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/22-j-suis-amoureux-de-toi.mp3

Here, you’re outright telling the person you’re in love with them.

A more subtle approach would be to say “je t’aime beaucoup”.  This again might raise some questions about the nature of your feelings — do you love the person as a friend or as a lover.

Here as well, it’s the signals you send through the tone of your voice and your body language that will help the person figure it out :

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/23-je-taime-bcp.mp3
/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/24-je-taime-bcp-lover.mp3

You might also say “tu me fascines”, a phrase that leaves little doubt as to your feelings. Admitting your fascination with a person will often come across as more than simple friendship.

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/25-tu-me-facines.mp3

Likewise, “je n’ai jamais connu quelqu’un comme toi” is quite a romantic phrase to say.

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/26-g-jamais-connu-qq-comme-toi.mp3

“J’ai des sentiments pour toi” is even more direct, more or less equivalent to “je suis amoureux de toi”.

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/27-g-des-sentiments-pour-toi.mp3

Another way to say it is “je ressens quelque chose pour toi”, I feel something for you :

“je ressens quelque chose pour toi”

French expressions for love : physical attraction

when you say to someone “tu me fais de l’effet”, you’re letting them know you’re physically attracted to them. The phrase literally means “you have a strong effect on me” :

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/29-tu-me-fais-de-leffet.mp3

A more blunt way to say it is “tu m’excites”.  When saying this you’re clearly entering the sexual realm, it’s like saying “you turn me on” :

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/30-tu-mexcites.mp3

Only say it if you know the person intimately, or if you really know what you’re doing …

Another French love phrase often used when talking about someone you’re attracted to is “je n’en peux plus pour elle”.  It expresses strong attraction and a dose of frustration associated with that :

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/31-jen-p-plus-pour-elle.mp3

Typically, you won’t say that to the person herself («je n’en peux plus pour toi») because it might make you sound a bit pathetic with an unfulfilled burning desire.

Of course, the most direct and brutal approach to revealing your attraction is to say “je veux passer la nuit avec toi”, telling her outright you want to spend the night with her :

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/32-j-v-passer-la-nuit-ac-toi.mp3

Again, use this phrase at your own risk, if you don’t know what you’re doing, be ready for unexpected results such as her walking off or being offended …

French expressions for love : in a relationship

So you’ve met your loved one and are now in a relationship.  Let’s look at some common love phrases the French typically say to their sweetheart.

“J’ai besoin de toi” (I need you) is typically used to show your feelings for the person are still as strong as in the beginning :

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/33-g-besoin-de-toi.mp3

“Je pense toujours à toi” lets the person know she’s always on your mind.  Assuming your feelings are shared, she should be very happy to hear this once in a while.

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/34-j-pense-tjrs-a-toi.mp3

“Je veux être avec toi” expresses that you long to be with her at all times, time away from her is painful to you.

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/35-j-v-etre-ac-toi.mp3

Another way to express this feeling of longing is “tu me manques” (I miss you).

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/36-tu-m-manques.mp3

“Je suis bien avec toi”, or “je me sens bien avec toi” indicates how happy you feel when the two of you are together.

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/37-j-suis-bien-ac-toi.mp3
/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/38-j-me-sens-bien-ac-toi.mp3

“Veux-tu m’epouser ?” is your standard marriage proposal.  Here again, I certainly hope you know what you’re doing.

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/39-v-tu-mepouser.mp3

“Embrasse moi idiot” (or just plain “embrasse-moi!”) needs no explanation. Probably one of the most romantic phrases ever.

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/40-embrasse-moi-idiot.mp3

An alternative to “embrasse moi” is “serre-moi dans tes bras” or “prends moi dans tes bras”.  These are typically used to express feelings of love rather than mere physical attractions.

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/41-serre-moi-ds-tes-bras.mp3
/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/42-prends-moi-ds-tes-bras.mp3

“Tu m’aimes ?” is usually asked by a lover in need of reassurance.  I would warn against answering “non”, whatever your true feelings are.

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/43-tu-maimes.mp3

French expressions for love : rejection

So far in this review, we’ve looked at the things of love with rose coloured glasses.

Unfortunately, rejection is also a fact of life.   So, now that we’ve talked about all these nice French love phrases, let’s take a peek at the dark side of the (honey)moon.

“T’es pas mon genre” (you’re not my type) can be quite harsh to hear when you’re trying to seduce someone :

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/44-t-pas-mon-genre.mp3

In some cases, however, it is not meant as a definite “no” and if you’re brave enough, you may want to give it another shot.

“Ça va pas non ?” is more radical, more of a definite “no”.  It literally means “are you crazy ?” Probably the ultimate rejection phrase.

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/45-ca-va-pas-non.mp3

“Désolée je suis pas libre” suggests the person is already in a relationship.  A softer way to reject your proposition. It’s not you, it’s her …

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/46-dsl-chui-pas-libre.mp3

A similar way to say this is “je suis déjà maquée”, which means “I already have a boyfriend / girlfriend” .  “Maqué” is derived from the word “mac” or maquereau, which is French for «pimp».  A disrespectful way of alluding to a someone in a relationship (including oneself). “Maqué” can also refer to someone who has a girlfriend, e.g. “il est maqué”.

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/47-chui-maquée.mp3

“Je suis avec quelqu’un” is a more delicate way for her to say she’s already involved in a relationship :

/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/48-je-suis-avec-qq.mp3

That’s all for now

So now you know (almost) everything there is to know about love phrases and expressions in spoken French. You’re ready to go out there and seduce men or women, go out on dates, get into relationships, and (hopefully not) get rejected.

If you think I’ve left out some important love phrases in French, or if you have questions or remarks about the ones I’ve mentioned, drop me a line in the comments. Until then, I wish the best of luck for your French love life.