cher
cher Lexical Profile
cher Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A major river in central France that rises in the Massif Central and flows northwest for about 365 kilometers before joining the Loire River near Tours.
A department in the Centre-Val de Loire region of central France, named after the Cher River, with Bourges as its capital.
American In Cajun and southern Louisiana English, a term of endearment meaning darling, dear, or sweetheart.
"Don't worry about a thing, cher; we will have supper ready on the table in no time."
• adjective
Dear or beloved; used chiefly in French phrases or as a term of endearment in Cajun English.
"Come sit on the porch and tell me how your family has been doing, mon cher."
Word Nuance & Usage
When borrowed into English as a term of endearment or in Cajun English, 'cher' is the masculine form, while 'chere' (or 'chère') is the feminine form, though in Louisiana English 'cher' is often used invariantly for both genders and pronounced like 'sha'.
• Rhymes for cher
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from French cher ('dear, beloved, expensive'), ultimately from Latin carus ('dear, precious, costly').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.