The many languages of love

14:51, 30 May 2013

LONDON. May 30. KAZINFORM "Chouchou" is Carla Bruni's term for her husband, the former French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Samantha Cameron was heard on microphone saying "I love you babe" to her man, Prime Minister David Cameron - and Michelle Obama described the most-tweeted picture ever (above) with the words, "That's my honey giving me a hug."

Some terms of endearment can be used in many languages - "baby", "angel" and "sweetheart" for example. But some don't travel as well as you might think. If you call a French person "honey" ("miel") he or she may take it as a unflattering comparison with a sticky mess.

And how would you react if someone called you a cauliflower, a flea, or a baby elephant? Here is a quick guide to the language of love around the world - dominated by metaphors from cookery and the animal kingdom - with contributions by language coach Paul Noble.

Little cabbage (French) - Petit chou

Pumpkin (Brazil / Portuguese) - Chuchuzinho

Egg with eyes (Japanese) -Tamago kato no kao

Lump of sugar (Spanish) -Terron de azucar

Fruit of my heart (Indonesian) - Buah hatiku

My flea (French) - Ma puce

Gazelle (Arabic) - Ghazal

Little elephant (Thai) - Chang noi

Diving fish swooping geese (Chinese) - Chen yu luo yan

Little dove (Russian) - Golubchik (masc) / golubushka (fem)

Full version on BBC

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