You might know how to say 'I love you' in French, but do you know the meaning of 'un baiser' or 'un coup de foudre'? This article will teach you romantic French love words and phrases to heat things up with your new French crush!
Some say that French is the language of love. Words and sayings that inspire love are found in French songs known around the world. Serge Gainsbourg wrote a song called Je t'aime, Moi Non Plus. The English translation is I love you, me neither and the true meaning of those lyrics is anybody's guess.
A classic French song that everybody knows is Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir by Lady Marmalade. The meaning of that song seems to be universally understood. But in case you are the last to know the English translation is Do you want to sleep with me tonight 😍
We've compiled a list of the most romantic French love words and phrases to help you talk like a French lover. If you want to keep them in your pocket, you might want to try the app, French Translator Dictionary + by VidaLingua. You can download it for free on your
iPhone or
Android.
une alliance - a wedding ring
l'âme sœur - soulmate
l'amour - love
un amour éternel - endless love
amoureux (boy) / amoureuse (girl) - boyfriend / girlfriend
As you can see from this example, French nouns have gender. They have different endings based on whether the words are masculine or feminine
avoir le cœur brisé - to be brokenhearted
une bague de fiançailles - an engagement ring
un baiser - a kiss
As a noun, un baiser is just a kiss in French. As a verb, it means to have sex and is quite vulgar. Use this French love word with precaution!
baratiner (slang) - to smooth-talk
bécoter (slang) - to smooch
un câlin - cuddle
célibataire - single
le cœur - the heart
un cœur à prendre - single, available
choper - to pick up
The French word choper is pécho in Verlan, a variety of French slang words for which the syllables are inverted.
un coup de foudre - love at first sight
In French, un coup de foudre is literally a lightning bolt. So love at first sight is like being struck by lighting for the French.
craquer pour quelqu'un - to fall for someone
un crush - crush
This love word is the same in French as in English.
déclarer sa flamme - to declare your love
demander en mariage - to propose
désirer - to desire
dévorer quelqu'un des yeux - to devour somebody with your eyes
un dîner aux chandelles - a candlelit dinner
draguer (slang) - to hit on
embrasser - to kiss
épouser - to marry
faire l'amour - to make love
faire un câlin - to hug
faire crac-crac - to get it on (US)
In French, faire crac-crac is a funny way to say make love.
les fiançailles - engagement
se fiancer - to get engaged
filer le parfait amour - to be the picture of love
flirter - to flirt
galocher - to French kiss
A galoche is an overshoe in French. Not exactly the first thing you associate with love.
une histoire d'amour - a love story
jaloux (boy) / jalouse (girl) - jealous
la lune de miel - honeymoon
se marier - to get married
des mots doux - sweet nothings
Literally, this means soft words in French.
murmurer des mots doux - to whisper sweet nothings
un nid d'amour - a love nest
se pacser - to enter in a civil partnership
la passion - passion
se prendre un râteau/une veste - to get rejected (US), a knock back (UK)
une preuve d'amour - a proof of love
roucouler - to coo
rouler un patin/une pelle - to French kiss
Literally, these love words means to roll a skate or to roll a shovel in French.
sortir avec quelqu'un - to date somebody
la tendresse - tenderness, affection
tenir une promesse - to keep a promise
se tenir la main - to hold hands
tomber amoureux/euse (boy/girl) or tomber en amour (Quebec) - to fall in love
tomber sous le charme de quelqu'un - to fall under the spell of somebody
des tourtereaux - lovebirds
un voyage de noces - honeymoon
Je t'aime.
I love you.
Je suis raide dingue de toi.
I'm totes crazy about you.
Je suis fou/folle de toi.
I am mad about you.
Je t'aime de tout mon cœur.
I love you with all my heart.
Je t'aime pour toujours.
I love you forever.
Je t'aime à mourir.
I love you to death.
Je suis accro à toi.
I am addicted to you.
Je t'ai dans la peau.
I have you under my skin.
Tu fais battre mon cœur.
You set my heart racing.
L'amour donne des ailes.
Love gives you wings.
J'ai trouvé le grand amour.
I found true love.
Tu es l'amour de ma vie.
You are the love of my life.
Tu es le soleil de ma vie.
You are the sunshine of my life.
Il/Elle me fait les yeux doux.
He/She makes puppy dog eyes at me.
Je suis amoureux/amoureuse de toi.
I am in love with you.
Mon cœur bat la chamade.
My heart is pounding wildly.
Je veux te serrer contre toi.
I want to hold you close to me.
Je pense à toi tout le temps.
I think of you all the time.
Tu es un beau parleur !
You are a smooth-talker!
Tu es l'élu(e) de mon cœur.
You are the one chosen by my heart i.e. You are the one.
Je suis en couple.
I'm in a relationship.
Je suis en bail.
I'm in a casual relationship.
In French, bail means a lease instead of something permanent like love.
J'ai envie de toi.
I want you.
Je brûle de désir pour toi.
You make me burn with desire.
J'en pince pour toi.
I have a crush on you.
Prends-moi dans tes bras !
Give me a hug!
Tu m'as brisé le cœur.
You broke my heart.
Je veux vivre avec toi.
I want to live with you.
Je veux passer ma vie avec toi.
I want a lifetime with you.
Loin des yeux, loin du cœur.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Je ne supporte pas d'être séparé(e) de toi.
I cannot bear to be apart from you.
Je ne supporte pas d'être loin de toi.
I cannot bear to be far from you.
Tu me manques.
I miss you.
J'ai des sentiments pour toi.
I feel something for you.
Tu me fais tourner la tête.
You make my head spin.
Je t'appartiens.
I belong to you.
Je suis à toi.
I am yours.
Tu fais partie de moi.
You are a part of me.
Tu es tout pour moi.
You are my everything.
Nous sommes faits l'un pour l'autre.
We are meant for each other.
Quand te reverrai-je ?
When will I see you again?
Nous vivons d'amour et d'eau fraîche.
We live on love alone.
L'amour est plus fort que tout.
Love is stronger than anything.
L'amour est aveugle.
Love is blind.
Tu représentes tellement pour moi.
You mean so much to me.
Veux-tu m'épouser ?
Will you marry me?
Use these French phrases with precaution as they may cause your favorite person to fall madly in love with you 😀
Want to learn more French words and phrases? Check out these great articles.
- Great French Songs to Learn French
- French Slang Words & Phrases
- Funny French Idioms
- French Internet Slang Words
- French Canadian Words
Have you written an article about learning French? If it's good, we might link to it. Email
outreach@vidalingua.com to let us know.
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Christine Ducos-Restagno
Lead French Linguist
Vidalingua