Romantic French Phrases: Flirting, Pet Names and Declarations
🇫🇷 French · 30 cards · A2 · by Théo Marchand
These are the 30 phrases you actually need if you are dating, flirting or writing to someone in French. I ordered them the way a relationship moves: attraction first (tu me plais), then asking someone out, then the pet names, then the big declarations.
Two things trip learners up. Intensity: je t'aime bien is weaker than je t'aime, not stronger, and it is what you say to end things politely. And embrasser means to kiss on the mouth, not to hug — for that you say faire un câlin. Where France and Québec part ways — mon copain versus mon chum — the note tells you which side of the Atlantic you are on.
Flip through the cards, then switch to Quiz. Tap the play button on any row to hear it. The full table below is there to read, print or copy into your own flashcard app.
The Reji iPhone app is being rebuilt and returns to the App Store soon.
All 30 cards
| # | French | English | Example | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Je t'aime The real declaration. Don't add an adverb: "je t'aime beaucoup" is weaker, not stronger. | I love you | Je t'aime, tu le sais très bien. I love you, you know that perfectly well. | |
| 2 | Je t'aime bien The friend zone in three words: "bien" softens "aimer" instead of reinforcing it. | I like you (as a friend) | Je t'aime bien, mais juste comme ami. I like you, but only as a friend. | |
| 3 | Tu me plais Literally "you please me". The normal step before "je t'aime" — clearly romantic, not friendly. | I like you, I'm attracted to you | Tu me plais depuis le premier jour. I've liked you since day one. | |
| 4 | Je pense à toi The classic text message. It's "penser à", never "penser de". | I'm thinking of you | Je pense à toi toute la journée. I think about you all day long. | |
| 5 | Tu me manques Reversed compared to English: the person who is missed is the subject. "Je te manque ?" = "Do you miss me?" | I miss you | Tu me manques déjà, rentre vite. I already miss you, come home soon. | |
| 6 | Mon amour Stays masculine when said to a woman. Used with a partner and also with young children. | my love | Bonne nuit, mon amour, dors bien. Goodnight, my love, sleep well. | |
| 7 | Mon chéri "Ma chérie" to a woman. Warm and slightly domestic — very common between couples of all ages. | darling, honey | Viens t'asseoir près de moi, mon chéri. Come sit next to me, darling. | |
| 8 | Mon cœur Same form for both genders. In France you'll also hear "ma puce" and "mon chou"; in Québec, "mon amour" dominates. | sweetheart (literally: my heart) | Ça va, mon cœur ? Tu as l'air fatigué. You okay, sweetheart? You look tired. | |
| 9 | Tu es magnifique "Magnifique" doesn't change for gender. Usually pronounced "t'es magnifique" — stronger and less cheesy than "tu es belle". | You look stunning | Tu es magnifique dans cette robe. You look stunning in that dress. | |
| 10 | Tu as de beaux yeux A famous film line ("T'as de beaux yeux, tu sais"), so the full version sounds knowingly cheesy. Fine if you smile while saying it. | You have beautiful eyes | Tu as de beaux yeux, tu sais. You have beautiful eyes, you know. | |
| 11 | Ça te dirait d'aller boire un verre ? The low-pressure way to ask someone out. In Québec you'll more often hear "prendre un verre". | Fancy going for a drink? | Ça te dirait d'aller boire un verre samedi ? Fancy going for a drink on Saturday? | |
| 12 | Tu veux sortir avec moi ? "Sortir avec" = to date someone. Among teenagers it means asking someone to be your girlfriend/boyfriend. | Do you want to go out with me? | Dis, tu veux sortir avec moi ce week-end ? Hey, do you want to go out with me this weekend? | |
| 13 | On sort ensemble Standard way to say you're a couple. "On est ensemble" works too and sounds a bit more serious. | We're dating, we're together | Ça fait trois mois qu'on sort ensemble. We've been together for three months. | |
| 14 | Je peux t'embrasser ? Careful: "embrasser" is a kiss on the mouth, not a hug. For a hug, say "faire un câlin". | Can I kiss you? | Je peux t'embrasser ? J'en ai envie depuis tout à l'heure. Can I kiss you? I've wanted to for a while now. | |
| 15 | Embrasse-moi Informal imperative (tu form), used with someone you're already close to. | Kiss me | Embrasse-moi, personne ne nous regarde. Kiss me, nobody's looking at us. | |
| 16 | Faire un câlin Softer and cosier than a kiss; also used with kids. In Québec you'll hear "viens te coller". | to cuddle, to hug | Viens me faire un câlin, j'ai froid. Come give me a cuddle, I'm cold. | |
| 17 | Je te kiffe France only, very informal and young (from Arabic "kif"). In Québec you'd say something like "je te trouve cute". | I'm really into you | Je te kiffe grave, t'es au courant ? I'm seriously into you, you know that? | |
| 18 | Je suis amoureux de toi Women say "amoureuse". Describes the state of being in love; often used just before a first "je t'aime". | I'm in love with you | Je crois que je suis amoureux de toi. I think I'm in love with you. | |
| 19 | Tomber amoureux de quelqu'un Takes "être" in the past tense: je suis tombé amoureux / je suis tombée amoureuse. | to fall in love with someone | Elle est tombée amoureuse de son voisin. She fell in love with her neighbour. | |
| 20 | Le coup de foudre Literally "a lightning strike". Also: "j'ai eu un coup de foudre pour elle". | love at first sight | Quand je l'ai vue, ça a été le coup de foudre. When I saw her, it was love at first sight. | |
| 21 | Avoir des papillons dans le ventre Very common in Québec, increasingly heard in France. Mostly about being in love, sometimes about nervous excitement. | to have butterflies in your stomach | J'ai encore des papillons dans le ventre quand je le vois. I still get butterflies when I see him. | |
| 22 | Je suis fou de toi Women say "je suis folle de toi". Passionate and a bit dramatic — meant that way. | I'm crazy about you | Je suis fou de toi depuis des mois. I've been crazy about you for months. | |
| 23 | Je tiens à toi Deep affection without saying "je t'aime". Works for a partner and for very close friends. | I care about you | Je tiens à toi, vraiment beaucoup. I care about you, a whole lot. | |
| 24 | Je me sens bien avec toi Understated and very French; often the first honest thing said early in a relationship. | I feel good with you | Je me sens bien avec toi, c'est simple. I feel good with you, it's easy. | |
| 25 | Tu me rends heureux A woman says "tu me rends heureuse". "Rendre + adjective" = to make someone feel something. | You make me happy | Tu me rends heureux, tout simplement. You make me happy, quite simply. | |
| 26 | Tu es l'amour de ma vie Serious register — weddings, anniversaries, long letters. Not a flirting line. | You're the love of my life | Tu es l'amour de ma vie, ne l'oublie jamais. You're the love of my life, never forget it. | |
| 27 | Je ne peux pas vivre sans toi Spoken French drops the "ne": "je peux pas vivre sans toi". | I can't live without you | Ne pars pas, je ne peux pas vivre sans toi. Don't go, I can't live without you. | |
| 28 | Je t'ai dans la peau Literally "I have you in my skin". Intense, almost obsessive — keep it for real passion. | I've got you under my skin | Qu'est-ce que tu veux, je t'ai dans la peau. What can I say, I've got you under my skin. | |
| 29 | Mon chum Québec only; feminine "ma blonde". In France: "mon copain / ma copine", or "mon mec / ma meuf" (informal). | my boyfriend, my partner (Québec) | Je viens avec mon chum ce soir. I'm coming with my boyfriend tonight. | |
| 30 | Veux-tu m'épouser ? In France the inversion makes it solemn — the proposal formula; casually you'd say "tu veux m'épouser ?" or "on se marie ?" In Québec "veux-tu" is just everyday speech. | Will you marry me? | Veux-tu m'épouser ? J'ai la bague dans ma poche. Will you marry me? I've got the ring in my pocket. |
Born in Lyon, living in Montréal. I write the phrases the way people actually say them on both sides of the Atlantic and mark the difference when it matters.
Questions about this deck
- What is the difference between "je t'aime" and "je t'aime bien"?
- "Je t'aime" is a real declaration of love. Adding "bien" or "beaucoup" weakens it: "je t'aime bien" means "I like you" and is exactly what you say to put someone in the friend zone. So never pad a first "je t'aime" with an adverb — say it bare. For something warm but not committed, use "je tiens à toi" or "tu me plais".
- Does "embrasser" mean to hug or to kiss in French?
- To kiss, on the mouth. "Je peux t'embrasser ?" asks for a real kiss, not a hug — a common and awkward mistake for English speakers. For a hug or a cuddle, say "faire un câlin" ("viens me faire un câlin"); for a peck on the cheek, "faire un bisou" or "se faire la bise".
- How do you say boyfriend and girlfriend in France and in Québec?
- In France: "mon copain" and "ma copine", or more casually "mon mec" and "ma meuf". In Québec: "mon chum" and "ma blonde", used by everyone at any age. In Québec "mon copain" can sound like a male friend, and in France "mon chum" simply isn't used. "Mon compagnon / ma compagne" and "mon conjoint / ma conjointe" are the neutral options for a long-term partner.
- Which of these phrases can I use early on without sounding too intense?
- Safe early phrases: "tu me plais", "je pense à toi", "je me sens bien avec toi", "ça te dirait d'aller boire un verre ?" and "tu es magnifique". Save "je t'aime", "tu es l'amour de ma vie", "je ne peux pas vivre sans toi" and "je t'ai dans la peau" for an established relationship — the last one especially sounds passionate and possessive.
More French decks: french phrases
Common French Phrases: 50 Basics Every Beginner Needs
50 common French phrases for absolute beginners: greetings, politeness, ordering, asking for help, with natural examples and France/Quebec usage notes.
100 Basic French Words for Beginners (A1)
The 100 most useful basic French words for absolute beginners: greetings, pronouns, everyday verbs, question words and nouns, each with a natural example sentence.
French Verbs: The 100 Most Common Verbs (A1)
The 100 French verbs you will actually use every day, each with a natural example sentence, plus notes on irregulars, auxiliaries and Quebec usage.
Colors in French: 25 Essential Words (A1)
Learn the 25 French colour words you actually need, with natural examples, clear agreement rules and notes on France vs Québec usage.
French Adjectives: The 100 Most Useful (A1)
The 100 French adjectives beginners actually need, each with its feminine form, placement notes and a short everyday example sentence written by a native speaker.
French -ER Verbs: 50 Essential Regular Verbs (A1)
The 50 most useful French -ER verbs for beginners: natural example sentences, spelling-change warnings, être/avoir flags and France vs Québec notes.
French -IR Verbs: 40 Essentials with Conjugation Notes
40 must-know French -IR verbs for A2 learners: finir, partir, ouvrir, venir and more, with conjugation patterns, past participles and natural examples.
French Numbers 1–100: Count from un to cent
All 100 French numbers from un to cent, with natural examples, pronunciation traps, the 'et un' rule and why 70, 80 and 90 are built from 60 and 20.