darling

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• Received-Pronunciation: /ˈdɑːlɪŋ/
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• General-American: där'lĭng
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• General-American: /ˈdɑɹlɪŋ/
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• General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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• rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)lɪŋ
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• homophone: darling
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• CMU ARPABET: D AA1 R L IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
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The noun is derived from Middle English dereling, derelyng (“beloved person; beloved of God, devout Christian”), from Old English dīerling, dēorling (“favourite, darling; minion”), from Proto-West Germanic *diuriling, from Proto-Germanic *diurijalingaz, from *diurijaz (“beloved, dear; expensive”) (further etymology uncertain, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *dhegwh- (“hot, warm; to burn”), or *dweh2- (“distant, long; to remove, separate”)) + *-ilingaz (suffix forming (diminutive) nouns with the sense of ‘belonging to; coming from’). By surface analysis, dear + -ling (suffix meaning ‘immature; small’). The adjective is from an attributive use of the noun. The verb is also derived from the noun.

253 source translations are retained for this English entry.

• Belarusian: лю́бы (ljúby) — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Bulgarian: любим (ljubim) — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Bulgarian: мил (mil) — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Bulgarian: скъп (skǎp) — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Catalan: estimat — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Chinese Mandarin: 亲爱的 — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Finnish: rakas — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• French: chéri — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• French: chérie — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Greek: λατρεμένος (latreménos) — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Greek: πολυαγαπημένος (polyagapiménos) — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Hebrew: יַקִּיר (yaqqír) — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Hindi: प्रियतम (priytam) — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Hindi: प्रियतमा (priyatmā) — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Icelandic: ástkær — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Icelandic: kær — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Irish: muirneach — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Italian: caro — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Latin: mellītus — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Malayalam: പ്രിയപ്പെട്ട (priyappeṭṭa) — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Nahuatl: notlazohtla — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Nahuatl: necuhtliyollotl — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Nahuatl: tlazohtli teōtl — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Occitan: carit — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Persian: دلنواز (delnavâz) — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Persian: نازنین (nâzanin) — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Portuguese: amado — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Portuguese: querido — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Romanian: drag — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Romanian: iubit — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Romanian: scump — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Russian: дорого́й (dorogój) — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Russian: люби́мый (ljubímyj) — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Russian: ми́лый (mílyj) — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Scottish Gaelic: ionmhainn — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Slovak: milovaný — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Spanish: amado — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Spanish: querido — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Tamil: அன்பு (aṉpu) — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Tamil: நேச (nēca) — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Turkish: biricik — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Turkish: canım — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Turkish: sevgili — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Volapük: löfik — very dear — see also beloved, cherished, favourite
• Bengali: দিলরুবা (dilruba) — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Catalan: estimat — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Finnish: suloinen — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Greek: χαριτωμένος (charitoménos) — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Hindi: आकर्षक (ākarṣak) — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Hindi: मोहक (mohak) — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Italian: caro — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Persian: دلفریب (delfarib) — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Persian: دلربا (delrobâ) — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Persian: فریبا (faribâ) — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Polish: czarujący — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Polish: czarująca — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Portuguese: encantador — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Romanian: drăguț — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Romanian: încântător — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Russian: ми́лый (mílyj) — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Russian: очарова́тельный (očarovátelʹnyj) — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Slovak: zlatý — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Spanish: encantador — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Swedish: bedårande — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Swedish: charmig — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Swedish: gullig — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Swedish: söt — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Turkish: hoş — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Turkish: tatlı — very cute or lovable — see also adorable, charming, sweet
• Albanian: loc — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Albanian: loke — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Arabic: حَبِيب (ḥabīb) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Arabic: حَبِيبَة (ḥabība) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Armenian: բարեկամ (barekam) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Armenian: քաղցր (kʻaġcʻr) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Armenian: սիրելի (sireli) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Armenian: թանկագին (tʻankagin) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Belarusian: лю́бы (ljúby) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Belarusian: лю́бая (ljúbaja) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Bengali: দিলরুবা (dilruba) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Central Bikol: padaba — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Central Bikol: padangat — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Bulgarian: любим (ljubim) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Bulgarian: любима (ljubima) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Catalan: estimat — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Catalan: estimada — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Chinese Mandarin: 寶貝 /宝贝 (bǎobèi) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Chinese Mandarin: 親愛的 /亲爱的 — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Chinese Mandarin: 心肝 (xīngān) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Chinese Mandarin: 心肝寶貝 /心肝宝贝 (xīngān bǎobèi) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Czech: miláček — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Czech: milý — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Czech: poklad — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Czech: zlato — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Czech: drahoušek — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Czech: zlatíčko — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Danish: elskede — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Dutch: geliefde — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Dutch: liefje — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Dutch: lieve — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Dutch: lieverd — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Dutch: schat — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Dutch: schatje — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Dzongkha: སྙིང་སྡུག (snying sdug) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Esperanto: karegulino — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Esperanto: karegulo — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Esperanto: karulino — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Estonian: kallike — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Estonian: kallikene — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Estonian: kullake — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Estonian: kullakene — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Finnish: kulta — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Finnish: kultanen — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Finnish: rakas — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• French: chéri — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• French: chérie — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Galician: amor — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Galician: meu ben — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Galician: meu rei — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Galician: rula — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Galician: tesouro — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Georgian: ახლობელი (axlobeli) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• German: Liebling — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• German: Schatz — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• German: Schätzchen — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Greek: αγάπη (agápi) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Greek: λατρεία (latreía) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Hebrew: יַקִּיר (yaqqír) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Hindi: प्रिय (priya) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Hindi: प्रिया (priyā) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Hindi: प्रियतम (priytam) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Hindi: प्रियतमा (priyatmā) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Hungarian: drágám — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Hungarian: édesem — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Hungarian: kicsim — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Hungarian: szívem — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Icelandic: elskan — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Indonesian: sayang — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Ingrian: kultoin — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Irish: ainsín — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Irish: carán — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Irish: craobhóg — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Irish: craoibhín — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Irish: cumann — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Irish: dílseog — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Irish: gealghrá — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Irish: grianán — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Irish: leanbán — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Irish: leannán — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Irish: leoinín — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Irish: maoinín — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Irish: meanmarc — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Irish: muirnín — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Irish: rúnach — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Irish: rúnsearc — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Irish: úillín — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Italian: amore — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Italian: tesoro — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Japanese: 愛すべき (aisubeki) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Japanese: ダーリン (dārin) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Japanese: ハニー (hanī) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Japanese: スイートハート (swītohāto) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Korean: 달링 (dalling) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Korean: 자기 (jagi) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Korean: 자기야 (jagiya) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Korean: 여보 (yeobo) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Central Kurdish: نازدار (nazdar) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Central Kurdish: یار (yar) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Central Kurdish: یارە (yare) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Lao: ສາຽສວາດ (sāi suāt) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Latin: animulus — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Latin: deliciae — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Latin: mel — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Latin: meum mel — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Luxembourgish: Fiffi — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Luxembourgish: Häerzi — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Luxembourgish: Liibling — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Luxembourgish: Schazi — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Malay: sayang — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Malayalam: പ്രിയതമൻ (priyatamaṉ) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Malayalam: പ്രിയതമ (priyatama) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Māori: ate — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Māori: ipo — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Māori: kōmata — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Māori: paruhi — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Māori: taupuhi — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Norwegian: elskling — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Persian: دلارام (delârâm) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Persian: دلبر (delbar) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Persian: دلدار (deldâr) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Persian: یار (yâr) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Polish: drogi — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Polish: droga — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Polish: kochany — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Polish: kochana — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Polish: kochanie — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Portuguese: querido — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Portuguese: querida — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Romanian: drag — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Romanian: dragă — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Romanian: iubit — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Romanian: iubită — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Russian: дорого́й (dorogój) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Russian: дорога́я (dorogája) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Russian: ду́шенька (dúšenʹka) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Russian: голу́бушка (golúbuška) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Russian: люби́мый (ljubímyj) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Russian: люби́мая (ljubímaja) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Russian: ми́лый (mílyj) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Russian: ми́лая (mílaja) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Russian: возлю́бленный (vozljúblennyj) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Russian: возлю́бленная (vozljúblennaja) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Scottish Gaelic: eudail — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Scottish Gaelic: luaidh — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Serbo-Croatian: ду́ша — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Serbo-Croatian: ср̏це — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Serbo-Croatian: зла̑то — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Serbo-Croatian: duša — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Serbo-Croatian: sȑce — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Serbo-Croatian: zlȃto — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Slovak: miláčik — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Spanish: amado — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Spanish: amada — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Spanish: querido — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Spanish: querida — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Spanish: cariño — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Swedish: älskling — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Swedish: raring — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Tamil: ஆருயிர் (āruyir) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Thai: ที่รัก (tîi-rák) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Turkish: sevdicek — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Turkish: sevgili — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Volapük: hilöfäb — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Volapük: jilöfäb — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Volapük: löfäb — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Welsh: cariad — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Woiwurrung: yadabiling — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Yiddish: ליבלינג (libling) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Yiddish: ליובע (lyube) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Zazaki: sinayer — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Zazaki: waşter — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Zazaki: yar (diq) — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Zealandic: lieven — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Zealandic: lieve — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Zealandic: liefje — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Zulu: isingane — often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one
• Czech: milý člověk — person who is kind, sweet, etc., and thus lovable; animal or thing which is cute and lovable — see also sweetheart
• Czech: miláček — person who is kind, sweet, etc., and thus lovable; animal or thing which is cute and lovable — see also sweetheart
• Czech: zlatíčko — person who is kind, sweet, etc., and thus lovable; animal or thing which is cute and lovable — see also sweetheart
• Finnish: herttainen — person who is kind, sweet, etc., and thus lovable; animal or thing which is cute and lovable — see also sweetheart
• French: chéri — person who is kind, sweet, etc., and thus lovable; animal or thing which is cute and lovable — see also sweetheart
• French: chérie — person who is kind, sweet, etc., and thus lovable; animal or thing which is cute and lovable — see also sweetheart
• Finnish: kutsua kullaksi — to call (someone) “darling”