Etymologically
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chéri

Etymology and origin of the French word chéri

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1669, Bossuet
Ultimate origin
French (chérir)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ʃe.ʁi/[1]

Forms

chéri (feminine chérie, masculine plural chéris, feminine plural chéries)[1]

Etymology

Used as an adjective and a noun, it is the past participle from French chérir (“to cherish”).[2][3][4] “Chérir” is formed on cher (“dear”) with the verb ending “-ir”.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The participle as an adjective, “beloved”, is first recorded in 1669 in Bossuet's funeral oration for the Queen of England.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

The verb chérir meant “to honour, flatter” in Wace (1150) and soon “to love tenderly” (1155).[2] As a noun, chéri “beloved person” appears in Béranger (1830–33), and the feminine chérie was used of a mistress before 1857 (Eugène Sue).[2][4] Mon chéri, ma chérie became the usual terms of endearment, especially between spouses; the Petit Robert notes tu viens, chéri? as a prostitute's classic invitation.[3]

Timeline

  • 1150 – Cherir “to honour”, Wace.[2]
  • 1155 – Cherir “to love tenderly”.[2]
  • 1669 – Chéri “beloved”, Bossuet.[2]
  • 1830–33 – The noun “beloved person”, Béranger.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Dearly beloved, cherished: mes enfants chéris, sa femme chérie.[3][5]
  2. (of things) Particularly treasured.[4]

Noun

  1. darling, dear: a term of endearment (mon chéri, ma chérie).[3][1]
  2. (familiar) A loved one, boyfriend or girlfriend; a favourite child.[4][3]

Usage notes

An unrelated chéri, the sharia, is borrowed from Ottoman Turkish شرع (şerʿ), from Arabic شَرْع (šarʕ).[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Chéri.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/ch%C3%A9ri. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·