cher

The French word "cher" primarily means "dear" or "expensive," depending on the context.

1. Meaning "dear":

• When addressing someone affectionately, "cher" (masculine) or "chère" (feminine) means "dear." For example: "Cher Paul," (Dear Paul,) or "Chère Marie," (Dear Marie,)
• It is commonly used in letters or emails as a polite greeting.

2. Meaning "expensive" or "costly":

• "Cher" describes something with a high price. For example: "Ce livre est cher" means "This book is expensive."
• It contrasts with synonyms like "coûteux," which also means costly but often implies a larger scale or financial burden, and "onéreux," which sounds more formal and is used for official or legal contexts.

Summary of synonyms:

• "Cher": common everyday term for "expensive" and "dear."
• "Coûteux": indicates something costly, often in more formal or written contexts, generally associated with expenses or investment.
• "Onéreux": very formal; used for fees, taxes, or burdensome costs.

In affection, "cher" (dear) has no synonym that fits precisely the same way, except sometimes "bien-aimé" (beloved), which is more poetic.

So be mindful whether you're expressing value or affection when using "cher."