Valentine’s Day, the day of love, is quickly approaching (it is tomorrow), so it is time to get ready! You might want to check out these two previous posts (1 and 2) that I have written about this holiday. Then read on to learn some new words that you can use to refer to the love of your life.

The person you love the most, likely has a name, maybe it is Tom, James, Katie, Shelly, etc., but you may not always call this person by their given name.  You might use a ‘term of endearment’ to refer to him or her some, or most, of the time.  A term of endearment is a word (or phrase) used to address a person that you love or have affection toward. Terms of endearment are used not just between lovers (boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, wives, etc.), but also by parents addressing their children at times. These words are used by people who love the person they are talking to. Some English words of endearment might already be familiar to you, common terms like “baby” or “love.”  For example: “Love, can you please pick up some milk on the way home.” or “Baby, I love the new perfume you bought me.” But there are many more terms of endearment in English out there for you to use. I have put together a list of some of the most frequently used ones below. In this list I’ve noted next to the term of endearment if it is usually used when addressing a female (f), a male (m), or if it can be used for both (b).

You can substitute these terms of endearment for the name of your loved one when writing them a card, calling them on the phone, or talking to them in person. Enjoy using this new vocabulary and spreading the love!

English terms of endearment:

angel-face (f)
baby (b)
baby-cakes (b)
beautiful  (b)
boo (b)
buttercup (f)
cupcake (f)
cutie (b)
cutie-pie (b)
darling (b)
dearie (b)
doll (f)
gorgeous (b)
hon (b)
honey (b)
hunk (m)
lover (b)
muffin (b)
pookie (b)
pumpkin (b)
snookums (b)
stud (m)
sugar (b)
sweetie (b)
sweetie-pie (b)