Useful Phrases for Valentine’s Day
At this time of the year, shops on the British highstreets are usually full with chocolate boxes, bunches of red roses and champagne bottles. You’ve guessed it, it’s the run-up to Valentine’s Day, celebrated on 14th February each year.
I’m a hopeless romantic who loves all the cute dinner dates and romantic gestures but I’m somewhat of a skeptic when it comes to Valentine’s Day, which I simply find to be a commercial day with shops in need of a sales boost at this time of the year. I have always found it amusing that you’re only supposed to be “in love” and declare this love for one day of the year. What about the other 364 days of the year? Nevertheless, I still follow tradition and buy my partner a Valentine’s Day card and a gift and this year shall be no different, despite the unusual situation of being in a global pandemic.
So, to celebrate this commercial day, I thought I’d give you a few adorable names (often called nicknames or pet names) that couples call each other. Now, I have to say that most of these names are often found in American English, with us Brits being “cold” and not expressing emotions quite so openly. If you watch romantic comedies, you’ll definitely hear some of these words.
Darling
Hi darling, how are you?
Sweetheart
American English speakers often use “sweetie” or “sweetie pie” instead
I love you, sweetheart.
Honey
An alternative slang word is “hun”
Hey honey, thanks for the gift.
Hubby
This is generally only used to talk about men
This is my hubby.
Dear
Be careful with your intonation when using this expression. Brits often use this to be sarcastic and show anger, but as a term of endearment, it is quite old-fashioned.
Are you alright dear?
Love
This can also be said as “luv”
Hi love, shall we go out?
Babe
Baby can also be used instead of babe
Hi babe, how was your day?
Handsome
Hey handsome, good day?
Gorgeous
Hello gorgeous, what are you watching?
These are typical nicknames you might hear all over the UK and the USA, but we also have regional words here in Britain too.
If you’re headed towards Essex, you’ll most likely hear “babes”. Try watching The Only Way Is Essex (reality TV show) and you’ll see just how much this word is used! In the North East of England, you might hear “pet”. Try watching Vera (crime-solving programme) and you’ll hear this expression loads. In Scotland, you’ll hear “hen”, in the Midlands “duck” and in London, with a classic cockney accent, “beautiful”.
In the USA, there are even more nicknames. I’m not going to lie, I find most of these super cheesy;
- Pookie
- Pumpkin
- Muffin
- Baby Doll
- Sugar
- Cutie (or cutie pie)
- Angel
Do you have endless names for loved ones in your language? Let us know in the comments below!
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