Dictionary

term of endearment en · NOUN

Meanings

1. A word, phrase, or nickname used as a term of address expressing affection; it is often a diminutive.
   • The people of Madagascar call him Deba, which means Big Boss. When President Didier Ratsiraka came to power 26 years ago, the moniker was meant as a term of endearment. 2002 June 16, Simon Robinson, “Tropical Trouble”, in Time:
   • "Kun" is a term of endearment often used in Japan for small boys. Yoshi-kun lived with his parents and grandparents in a house in Takasaki. 1987 September 20, Nicholas D. Kristof, “Kidnap-Murder of 5-Year-Old Shakes Japan”, in New York Times, retrieved 25 Jun 2013:
   • The words had such a softening influence, that he appended a term of endearment to Mrs. Dombey's name (though not without some hesitation, as being a man but little used to that form of address): and said, ‘Mrs. Dombey, my—my dear.’ 1846, Charles Dickens, chapter 1, in Dombey and Son:

Forms

Antonyms

term of abuse

Hypernyms

term · word · phrase · hypocorism · nickname · pet name · term

Relateds

sweet nothing · SWALK · sweetheart · coochy coo

Synonyms

endearment · endearment · term of endearment

Translations (35)

fi hellittelynimi (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · el χαϊδευτικό (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · he שם חיבה (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · hu becézés (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · ka მოფერებითი სიტყვა (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · it vezzeggiativo (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · es término de cariño / entrañamiento (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · is ástarheiti (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · fr terme affectueux (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · sv smeknamn (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · pt termo afetivo (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · el υποκοριστικό (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · is ástarorð (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · de Kosewort (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · cmn 暱稱 /昵称 (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · hu becenév (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · grc ὑποκόρισμα (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · es palabra tierna / afectuosa / cariñosa (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · ja 愛称 (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · es expresión entrañable (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · cs něžné oslovení (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · gl palabra de afecto (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · hu becéző szavak (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · cmn 愛稱 /爱称 (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · eo karesvorto (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · is blíðuorð (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · is blíðuhót (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · es palabra de afecto (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · fi hellittelysana (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · no kjæleord (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · ru ласка́тельное сло́во (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · pl afektonim (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · sv smeksam benämning (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · ru ласка́тельное и́мя (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection) · sv smekord (word, phrase, or nickname expressing affection)