Should you wish to murmur sweet nothings in Jèrriais to tan galant (your boyfriend) or ta douoche (your girlfriend) for la Saint Valentîn (Saint Valentine's Day) this year, here are some phrases that may be useful.
To say “be my Valentine” to a woman, use sai ma Valentinne, and to a man, use sai man Valentîn. These are also handy phrases for ta carte dé valentinne (your Valentine's card) which will probably have un grand rouoge tchoeu (a big red heart) on it, and which you might attach to eune boêtée d'chocolats (a box of chocolates), un touffet d'flieurs (a bunch of flowers) or perhaps eune boutelle dé vîn (a bottle of wine) - all for lé chein qu'j'aime or la cheinne qué j'aime (the one that I love - masculine or feminine). Although un galant will probably be more èrconnaîssant (grateful) for eune braichie d'ôtis êlectriques (an armful of power tools)!
Perhaps the object of your affection may be moved to murmur “j't'aime” (I love you) or, in the case of a very large boêtée d'chocolats, even j't'adouothe (I adore you). Don't forget in the heat of passion that “too” or “as well” is étout, so “j't'aime étout” means “I love you too”.
Love is l'amour and a lover is un amouotheux in the case of a man, and for a woman, eune amouotheuse. You might want to whisper “Man tchoeu” which literally means “my heart” but also means “my darling”, however if you want to say “my dear” you will have to say “ma chiéthe” to a woman and “man chièr” to a man.
But let us hope that you hear “J'sis en amour dé té” (I'm in love with you) rather than “J'sis en amour dé tchitch'un d'aut'!” (I'm in love with someone else!)
In any case, remember that as the old diton has it: l'amour est pus fort qué dgiêx boeufs (love is stronger than ten oxen). Bouanne Saint Valentîn! Happy Valentine's Day!
Viyiz étout: