noun
my love
my LUV
My love (noun) means an affectionate way of addressing a romantic partner. Example: “Goodnight, my love.”
noun
1
An affectionate way of addressing a romantic partner.
"Goodnight, my love."
"My love, I will be home by seven."
2
British dialect A friendly form of address to almost anyone, used in parts of Britain, especially the North and the Midlands.
"That will be four pounds fifty, my love."
"Are you all right there, my love?"
3
The person one loves.
"She was his first and only love, and he called her his love to the end."
How to use my love
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA warm name for someone you love — or, in parts of England, for anyone at all.
When to use it
Intimate in most of the English-speaking world, but purely friendly in much of northern England, where a shopkeeper may use it with a stranger.
Memory tip
In Britain, being called 'love' by a bus driver is not flirtation. In American English the same phrase from a stranger would be startling.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
goodnight my love
my love for you
hello my love
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Synonyms
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Rhymes for my love
See all rhymes for my love →Frequently asked questions
Is 'my love' romantic or just friendly?
It depends entirely on who says it and where. Between partners it is straightforwardly romantic, but in Yorkshire, Lancashire, the Midlands and much of Ireland it is an everyday courtesy extended to customers and strangers with no romantic weight at all.
What is the difference between 'my love' and 'my darling'?
'My darling' is almost always intimate and slightly more formal or old-fashioned in tone. 'My love' covers the same romantic ground but also survives as a regional term of address for anyone.
What is the meaning of my love?
"my love" (noun) means an affectionate way of addressing a romantic partner.
What is another word for my love?
Other words for "my love" include darling, my dear, sweetheart, my darling, love, duck.
