cher/ʃɛʁ/
adjective / noun / adverb / prop.n. · A1 · Frequency 612
adjectivemasculine
Meanings
dear, beloved
Used to express affection towards someone, commonly used in addressing friends or loved ones.
expensive, costly
Used to describe items that are high in price or value.
Examples
Mon cher voisin m'a rendu un grand service.
My dear neighbor did me a great favor.
Ce souvenir reste cher à mon cœur.
This memory remains dear to my heart.
Ce vélo est trop cher pour mon budget.
This bicycle is too expensive for my budget.
Collocations
- un ami chera dear friend
- un objet cheran expensive object
Common mistakes
C'est un cher ami.
C'est un ami cher.
The adjective ‘cher’ usually follows the noun when meaning ‘dear’ or ‘beloved’.
Un cher voiture.
Une voiture chère.
When ‘cher’ means ‘expensive’, it must agree in gender and number and is placed after the noun.
Related words
antonymbon marchécheap, inexpensive
nounmasculine
Meanings
dear, honey, hon
Used as a term of endearment for a loved one or close person, common in spoken language.
Examples
Cher, peux-tu fermer la fenêtre avant de partir ?
Dear, could you close the window before you leave?
Cher, je t'ai préparé ton café.
Honey, I made your coffee.
Cher, n'oublie pas ton parapluie.
Dear, do not forget your umbrella.
Collocations
- mon chermy dear
Common mistakes
Mon cher est ici.
Mon cher ami est ici.
As a noun, ‘cher’ usually requires a modifier like ‘ami’; using it alone is incomplete.
Je t'aime, cher.
Je t'aime, mon cher.
The expression ‘mon cher’ is commonly used for endearment; using ‘cher’ alone is unnatural.
Related words
synonymchoubaby, darling, sweetheart (term of endearment)
adverb
Meanings
expensively; at a high price
Used as an adverb to express something precious or with deep affection, commonly found in written or formal contexts.
Examples
Je t'aime cher, tu comptes beaucoup pour moi.
I love you dearly, you mean a lot to me.
Ce nouveau restaurant est cher, mais la nourriture est vraiment super.
This new restaurant is expensive, but the food is really super.
Collocations
- aimer très cherto love dearly
- payer cherto pay dearly
- c'est cherit's super
Common mistakes
Il est cher mon ami.
Il est cher à mon ami.
As an adverb, 'cher' is usually followed by the preposition 'à' to express affection; directly placing a noun after 'cher' is incorrect.
C'est un film cher!
C'est un film super!
In slang usage, 'cher' cannot be used directly as an adjective meaning 'very good'; words like 'super' should be used instead.
Related words
synonymchèrementdearly
prop.n.masculine
Meanings
Cher
Name of an administrative department in central France, commonly used in geographical and administrative contexts.
Cher River
A river in central France.
Examples
Le département du Cher se trouve au centre de la France.
The Cher department is located in central France.
Le Cher traverse plusieurs villes avant de rejoindre la Loire.
The Cher flows through several towns before joining the Loire.
Nous passerons nos vacances dans le Cher cette année.
We will spend our holiday in Cher this year.
Collocations
- département de CherCher department
- rivière CherCher river
Common mistakes
Je vais à Cherbourg, pas à Cher.
Je vais dans le Cher, pas à Cherbourg.
Cher is a department name usually used with 'dans', Cherbourg is a city name used with 'à'. Confusing the two leads to errors.
Related words
synonymLoir-et-CherA department in central France
synonymIndre-et-LoireA department in central France
adjectivefeminine
Meanings
dear, beloved
Used to express affection towards someone, commonly used in addressing friends or loved ones.
expensive, costly
Used to describe items that are high in price or value.
Examples
Ma chère amie vient dîner chez moi ce soir.
My dear friend is coming to dinner at my place tonight.
Il a écrit une lettre à sa chère grand-mère.
He wrote a letter to his beloved grandmother.
Cette veste est chère, mais elle durera longtemps.
This jacket is expensive, but it will last a long time.
La réparation de la voiture risque d'être chère.
Repairing the car may be costly.
Collocations
- un ami chera dear friend
- un objet cheran expensive object
Common mistakes
C'est un cher ami.
C'est un ami cher.
The adjective ‘cher’ usually follows the noun when meaning ‘dear’ or ‘beloved’.
Un cher voiture.
Une voiture chère.
When ‘cher’ means ‘expensive’, it must agree in gender and number and is placed after the noun.
Related words
antonymbon marchécheap, inexpensive