affaire de coeur
Low to Medium (Uncommon, but recognized in educated contexts)Formal or Literary. Used primarily in written texts and sophisticated spoken language to add a nuance of French elegance or euphemism.
Definition
Meaning
A love affair; a romantic or amorous relationship.
A passionate, often secret or illicit, romantic involvement. It can imply emotional intensity beyond a casual liaison and may sometimes refer to a consuming personal passion for a non-romantic subject, though this is less common.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The phrase directly borrows the French spelling and sense. It carries connotations of sophistication, passion, and often secrecy or transience. It is not used for established, long-term marriages or partnerships.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more frequent in British English, reflecting historical Francophone influence. American usage tends to be more self-consciously 'highbrow'.
Connotations
Both share core connotations of romance and sophistication. In BrE, it may have a slightly more established, if rare, literary pedigree.
Frequency
Rare in everyday speech in both varieties. More likely encountered in literature, journalism (e.g., society columns, reviews), or historical narratives.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] had/has an affaire de coeur with [Person]an affaire de coeur between [Person A] and [Person B]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It was more than a fling; it was a genuine affaire de coeur.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used, except metaphorically in very rare contexts (e.g., 'The CEO's affaire de coeur with blockchain technology').
Academic
Rare; potentially in literary criticism, history, or gender studies discussing romantic relationships.
Everyday
Very rare; would sound affected or humorous.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He read about a famous affaire de coeur in a book.
- The novel describes a secret affaire de coeur in 19th century Paris.
- Their brief affaire de coeur was the subject of much gossip, though neither ever confirmed it.
- The biographer suggested that the statesman's political decisions were, at times, influenced by his clandestine affaire de coeur with a diplomat's wife.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'affair of the HEART' (coeur = heart in French). It's a fancy, imported way to say a heartfelt romantic affair.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOVE IS A JOURNEY/VOYAGE ('Their affaire de coeur took them to Paris'), LOVE IS A SECRET ('a clandestine affaire de coeur').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as "дело сердца" which is a direct calque and not an idiom. The correct equivalent is "роман" or "любовная связь".
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'affair de coeur' (missing the final 'e' on affaire), 'affaire de cour' (court instead of heart).
- Mispronouncing 'coeur' as /kɔː/ or /kaʊə/.
- Using it to describe a non-romantic favourite project without ironic intent.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the phrase 'affaire de coeur' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. While 'affair' can mean a love affair, it has many other meanings (e.g., business affair, state affair). 'Affaire de coeur' is specific to romance and carries a more sophisticated, often French, nuance.
Pronounce it like the English word 'cur' or 'sir' with a 'k' sound at the start: /kɜːr/. The French 'oeu' is approximated by the English vowel in 'her'.
It would sound very formal, literary, or even pretentious. In everyday speech, 'love affair', 'romance', or 'relationship' are more natural choices.
Not always, but the phrase often carries that connotation due to its historical use in literature and society pages. It implies an intensity that may exist outside conventional bonds.