Would one use "my" with darling (ie "ma chérie") to refer to a lover only, or can one also use it to refer to their child, or maybe a friend? How does using "chérie" on its own differ?
2 Answers
Mon chéri and ma chérie can definitely be used with sons and daughters too.
Between friends or colleagues, "ma chérie" is sometimes used, often but not always with a humorous and/or sarcastic way.
Chéri and Chérie alone are almost exclusively limited to lovers.
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1I must disagree about the humourous/sarcastic way between friends. My wife calls her best friend "ma chérie", in a sentence like "Ca va ma chérie ?". It just makes a proximity, and has to be used between girls... Otherwise it would be awkward, and ambigous about the relationship. As an exemple, Cristina Córdula calls everyone "ma chérie" too :)– RandomAug 17, 2015 at 8:58
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@Random "Ma chérie" can indeed also be used genuinely between friends. Answer updated to clarify.– jlliagreAug 17, 2015 at 9:55
As a native speaker I can tell you that you can use "my" (as in "Comment vas-tu ma chérie ?) for intimate people lovers, sons and daughters, even best friends (even if it may only be used by women).
BUT, you would only use "chéri" without pronoun for lovers (as in 'Comment vas-tu chérie ?' )
