How common is it in the UK to refer to a stranger as ‘love’ like ‘speak up, I can’t hear you love?’ or ‘what can I get you, love?’ Is it regional or more of an older generation thing?

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Pleasant_Pace_5955@reddit

not sure about older gens! but definitely a regional thing, I live in london and I never hear this EVER but I think in some areas up north it might be more common

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Depends where in the UK. In some areas it is REALLY common - northern towns stereotypically. In others you'll nearly never hear it. There is an age element too and some people are paranoid about sounding patronising/chauvinistic but in reality in certain localities it is perfectly normal to say "thanks luv" to someone who has given or done something for you.

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Winston_Carbuncle@reddit

Its also not gender specific.

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pondribertion@reddit

This. There used to be a woman at my work (going back some years) who called just about everybody "darling".

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fezzuk@reddit

I think women will say it to women and men, straight men are not saying it to other straight men as a general rule, unless they are close and then its in a slightly jokey wau.

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Amazing_Image523@reddit

My and my mate always call each other luv or petal in text messages we’re both married with kids. We are both northern though. Obviously we’re taking the piss.

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Ashamed-Assumption12@reddit

I'm a Londoner and work here but with a mainly US based team. I call them petal all the time. I do find I tend to exaggerate my accent a bit. I know I'm doing it but I can't stop. I'll be sounding like Dick van Dyke soon!

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pondribertion@reddit

Cor blimey!

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fezzuk@reddit

Its differenct between close mates.

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The-Yellow-Badger@reddit

I’m in my mid 30s and get called “love” at work by older men nearly every day.

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Curious-Term9483@reddit

Definitely depends where you are, but in the south this is definitely true. There's also a situational thing - buying a pint at the pub or veg on the market I don't bat an eyelid being called love by a stranger. But it wouldn't be as normal in a more formal situation or at work if a senior manager at work called me love I would definitely do a double take.

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Creative_Rise@reddit

Men will say it to men in Yorkshire!

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PigeonsOfDenmark@reddit

Yep, can confirm that

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WalnutOfTheNorth@reddit

It’s not uncommon for straight men to call each other love in lot of places. Grew up in East Riding and still get called it there when I visit.

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florencepughsboobies@reddit

It’s reasonably common where I am for men to say it other men, especially older men to younger men

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MountainDapper167@reddit

Was (not so much now) common for a man to call another man 'love' in Yorkshire. Still happens occasionally now.

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TrackTeddy@reddit

Again it depends on where you are, I've had make bus drivers call me luv, (and I'm quite obviously male), but yes less common than opposite sex interactions.

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Dangerous-Gap-7005@reddit

I live in the SW and since I was 50 I've called most people love. Nobody seems to care.

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BarnytheBrit@reddit

Manchester I believe it’s very common

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CelesteJA@reddit

I hear it all the time from strangers. Alongside "my lovely", "pet" and "mate".

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BlissVision@reddit

Best not try it in workplaces though. I witnessed an older Woman point to a fella in his 30s with "I'm nobody's love". Bit of a battle axe. Said fella was ousted within days, as he was in on agency and she had influence.

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AdAsleep8158@reddit

What an absolutely wretched failure of a human being

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Karla_Darktiger@reddit

It's definitely regional, I only really hear it in the north

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AdAsleep8158@reddit

Come to Bristol and the west country...

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Spicymargx@reddit

Mid 30s woman in the North and I say “love” constantly but mainly to people I know

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ConsciousBother4047@reddit

Another one you might hear is treacle. As in, awrite trea’le!

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Lowermains@reddit

Never heard it said in any part of Scotland. Dunno about Northern Ireland or Wales.

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CurvePuzzleheaded361@reddit

Common with older people

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Crazy-Bid4760@reddit

Very common for me but I live in the north so to be expected, I am a millennial and also say 'luv' to everyone I dont personally know/kmow that well as its a nice term of endearment that doesn't mislead. I also say it to men/women older/younger then me :)

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Hhhhaaaabbbbrrrr@reddit

Very common depending on where you are in the UK!

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Black-Cat-Aries@reddit

Can all be used sarcastically and passive aggressively. Some men have a thing about saying “cheer up love” if you’re not smiling. As if you owe them a smile and as if they’re smiling themselves? Weird

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siliconsandwich@reddit

recently enjoyed learning that the male-coded equivalent is “Bluv”

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Amazing_Image523@reddit

Very common in the north and less common but also said in the south.

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user_error101@reddit

Really common where we are and it is as heart warming as it sounds.

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Ashamed_North348@reddit

It’s Lass or Lad in Carlisle.

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St3lla_0nR3dd1t@reddit

It’s very normal where we are, but recently “lovely” (used as a noun vocatively) seems to be a viable alternative, especially from a woman.

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Green-Dragon-14@reddit

Sweetheart, love, chuck, lovey, darlin

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Able_Wedding_6681@reddit

Darling is used a lot in the south

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Bretty315@reddit

Yorkshire

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StockholmGirl29@reddit

I still hear it a lot. My food shopping delivery man called me "love" today. It's just friendly and isn't anything salacious,!

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Narrow-Gauge-Girl@reddit

Very much, but not exclusively, Northern regional.

In parts of the midlands you might get a ‘me duck’ instead. My Dad likes to use this one!

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BenchClamp@reddit

In the West Country it’s ‘my lover’ …we’re even more friendly.

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Japhet_Corncrake@reddit

Me babber .

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Solid_Contact6529@reddit

Bristolians say “me lover” or at least they did when I was growing up there.

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throwawayUKPF99@reddit

Never heard someone say babber unironically in my entire life of living in Somerset Bristol and South Glos

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nevergetmynamestill@reddit

I called both my daughters my little babbers when they were little

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luciferslandlord@reddit

Not as common now though

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Japhet_Corncrake@reddit

No, my lover is much more common.

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Clomojo87@reddit

Gloucestershire here and I haven't quite got the rrr, but happily call people 'love'.

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skewiffcorn@reddit

I always love hearing this the accents make it so much better!

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Labyrinth2_718@reddit

I love that ,lol.

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PipBin@reddit

Yep. My dad uses ‘my lover’ all the time. ‘Maid’ when talking to a younger woman seems to have fallen out of favour now.

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TwoSixThree@reddit

I was once working inside a marine engine in Falmouth dockyard , waist up in the crankcase with my arse and legs outside. One of the locals came to check I was ok , looked down at me from between my knees and asked ‘how are you my handsome’ . I was really not sure how to answer

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jeanclaudebrowncloud@reddit

Moi luvvur

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unprofessional_widow@reddit

That's a Devon thing

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tea_would_be_lovely@reddit

in the accent, it sounds wonderful, too!

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nevergetmynamestill@reddit

I'm west midlands and heard 'me duck' when I first went to Nottingham. My grandad was born outskirts of Coventry and he said 'me old pigeon'. In fact a lot of things he said has slowly died out now. He said mon for man, which was common for his generation. Sweets were suck. Your lunch for work was your snap and you had it in your snap box.

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Quick_Insurance5910@reddit

I call everyone duck haha

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JasonStonier@reddit

I get looked at very oddly if I call someone 'duck'. You know it's a pronunciation of "Duke" right? It's a term of respect where I'm from (Stoke), but does NOT travel well outside the midlands.

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Internet-Dick-Joke@reddit

Could be worse... in the Black Country it's cock... does not travel well indeed.

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GingerWindsorSoup@reddit

Same as in Shropshire, ow do cock? Also wut, mon, owd blade and jockey are terms of endearment in East Shropshire, cocker in Shrewsbury.

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Prestigious_Bat2666@reddit

Yow orite cock

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TrainingSuccess6516@reddit

It’s duchess not duke in London

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Narrow-Gauge-Girl@reddit

My Dad uses it in the North and yes he gets funny looks but he doesn’t care whatsoever haha

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orensiocled@reddit

It's a cockney thing too, my grandparents would call everyone duck or duckie!

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JasonStonier@reddit

Huh. I did not know it was also Cockney! Presumably the same root word, duke.

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FuzzyJumper3@reddit

That is so cool. My FiL uses duck all the time but as a term of endearment to his grandkids

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EldritchSanta@reddit

Bits of South Yorkshire also just Duck.

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not_microwave_safe@reddit

Ey up, duck. Ow at?

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Chemical-Piece-5542@reddit

There’s plenty of ‘ love ‘ going around here in the Black Country. ‘ yow’right love ‘ is very common

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Hairy_Doughnut5582@reddit

Owamya?

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Chemical-Piece-5542@reddit

Arr sound ye

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CakieStephie@reddit

Loved the lady down my road who used me duck.

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herwiththepurplehair@reddit

Lincolnshire, “duck” is very common.

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Loose-Map-5947@reddit

Or chuck in East Midlands (Leicestershire)

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owningxylophone@reddit

I think this is very situational across the county, here in South L I hear more “love” than “chuck”.

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flippertyflip@reddit

Wtf is South L? South Loughborough?

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owningxylophone@reddit

South Leicestershire, which I (incorrectly) assumed was apparent from the comment I was replying to.

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flippertyflip@reddit

Ah, my bad.

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Overall-Lynx917@reddit

"Chicken" in Scouseland

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Separate_Rise_8932@reddit

East midlands here and duck isn't really used THAT much, especially from those below 50, love is used more.

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DemonicHedgehogs@reddit

From the North West and I spent a couple of years in the East Mids, got called duck many times every day. Maybe you’re just so used to hearing that word that it doesn’t register, because I assure you that a lot of people in the east miss use it a lot.

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MayDuppname@reddit

I'm a fair way under 50 and I use duck (or ducky) all the time. Out of all my friends, the one who uses duck most often is in his 20s.

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tea_would_be_lovely@reddit

my grandparents came from the north east, they used "pet" in much the same way. i really like the variations around the country.

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msmoth@reddit

I love the NE 'pet'. There's something special about it.

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unprofessional_widow@reddit

It's extremely common in the south west too

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Creative-Pizza-4161@reddit

Im in Suffolk get "love", "lovely" and "dear" sometimes, have been called "sweetheart" when I was younger. My husband also gets love, lovely and dear too sometimes

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fezzuk@reddit

Love is very very common in london, i always use it.

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Tennonboy@reddit

North staffs to midlands there's more ducks than their are starlings 😀😁😎

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SnooDonuts6494@reddit

It's very regional and somewhat generational.

It's very common for older shop assistants, market traders, café serving staff and publicans in Yorkshire villages. It's unheard of from teens in London.

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FencingCatBoots@reddit

I wouldn’t say it’s generational, more that it always sounds weird from a teenager no matter the decade. When the current teenagers get older they’ll be calling people ‘love’ too.

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

What do teens say?

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SnooDonuts6494@reddit

In that situation, probably "What?" or "Eh?"

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CatCafffffe@reddit

"Bruv"

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thrannu@reddit

It’s very common to say cariad (love) in welsh. Even english speaking welsh people use that word for “darling” etc

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clbdn93@reddit

It's not uncommon, but be aware of tone because although it's often endearing it can come across patronising.

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unner26@reddit

I’m in the south and we can use love as either a term of endearment of extreme passive aggression depending on tone

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Professional_Dare904@reddit

I’m originally from the north west and it’s just part of my vocabulary. I call everyone “love”.

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pilipala23@reddit

Terms of endearment are very common. I have lived in quite a few parts of mainland Britain and have been called, by complete strangers, love, my love, darling, sweetheart (all over) , treacle (East London), princess (south London), hen (Scotland), duck, pet and chuck (northern England). I live in Wales now and most commonly get 'love' but occasionally 'butt' or 'butty', even more occasionally 'blodyn' and one person calls me 'chick'.

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

Not sure how butt got lumped with these. And what about chuck, what’s the story behind that?

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unner26@reddit

I heard that butty is the origin of buddy and it comes from working back to back in mineshafts for safety so you were butted up together and your butty was keeping you from falling

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CompetitiveAnxiety@reddit

Not sure about butt, but my parents (from Lancashire) used to call me and my sister chucky egg so chuck is possibly from that.

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AndyOf77@reddit

Not sure, I grew up in the 80s and don't think it's anywhere near as common nowadays.

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Mobile_Falcon8639@reddit

Very common especially among older, working class women, probably more common up north.

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Jack-Rabbit-002@reddit

You could probably say both but I'd say more regional I mean around my end you'd get 'Bab'

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Green-Thought23@reddit

South Yorkshire/ North Nottinghamshire here. Same. Originally from Lincolnshire and moving to Nottingham was a shock 😂

Eventually got used to being called “duck” then moved further up county and everyone said “bab” or “babs”.

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herwiththepurplehair@reddit

Im originally from Lincolnshire and I use “mate” a lot, duck is an endearment and mate more broad I think. You don’t hear the proper Lincolnshire accent much now, especially not as my grandfather spoke it.

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Green-Thought23@reddit

Yeah, I use mate quite a lot. And my grandad (also Lincolnshire) always used mate come to think of it, unless he addressed my cousins and I (all female) it’d be “Gert” . I know exactly what you mean about the accent too! Remember going to the cattle market once as a kid and it was like, farmers slang? I’m not sure how to describe it 😅 My granny has the accent but it’s softened over the years and I’ve also been able to understand her. My uncle always used to refer to me as “a bloody towny” 🤣

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herwiththepurplehair@reddit

As they say round our way “naaaaaaaah then mate” 🤣

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Green-Thought23@reddit

Exactly how my primary school best friend and partner greet me 😂

Out of interest; did you ever get told to “dry up” as a kid? Because this seems to be very Lincolnshire. My older cousin would wind me up and if I ever grassed it would result in that phrase, like an old school way of saying “don’t be a snowflake” 🙈

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herwiththepurplehair@reddit

Hmmm no I definitely got told not to be a mardy bum though haha. Try explaining that to Scottish husband “you know how men are when they’ve got a cold?”

“Yeah?”

“That’s mardy”

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Green-Thought23@reddit

Yes. I got that from the north Notts side of the family 😂 further down the county it’s “don’t be a mardy mar mar”; I never understood that. But Mardy arse I relate to.

Haha I love the analogy of that for your husband to understand. They are just mardy aren’t they, like not significantly ill so they just act mardy with a sniffle 😂

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jayphelps57@reddit

From Leicester we use mardy bum often

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Green-Thought23@reddit

Before or after artic monkeys? “Mardy bum” kind of spread a bit further after 2006. Genuinely interests me, so just curious.

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herwiththepurplehair@reddit

It’s just a perfect word for it! I’ve gained some weird and wonderful words in my 27 years in Scotland but I’ve taught him a fair few too! The endless falling out over the pronunciation of “haslet”, he says “haz-let” and I pronounce it (correctly of course) like it rhymes with bracelet

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Green-Thought23@reddit

My uncle is Scottish and he’s shared a few strange ones with us. My favourite is “puggy”, apparently it’s a Scottish name for a pub bandit?! I’d never heard it before, even as a pub manager and a fair few Scottish regulars. How language varies is so interesting I love it!

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herwiththepurplehair@reddit

Same! I like “chunty”, it’s a toilet! First time I got home from work and got “I’ve been busy. Cleaned the bathroom. Even cleaned the chunty”

“Did you? Er….that’s nice dear!”

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Green-Thought23@reddit

🤣🤣

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CompleteDot9383@reddit

Used to work with a girl from Lincolnshire in the North East and everyone used love all the time, 'thanks Sarah love' etc. One day she told me her surname was actually Love and it took her a while to get used to everyone saying love all the time as it felt like we were using her full name.

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Green-Thought23@reddit

Hahaha that’s brilliant. I can imagine it sounded strange to her. If I was her I’d think I was in trouble all the time 🤣

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herwiththepurplehair@reddit

Also - try Tennyson’s poems The Northern Farmer (Old Style and New Style), if your granny can read it, it’ll sound as he intended it!

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Green-Thought23@reddit

We did a lot of Tennyson at school before I moved (would probably have been sacrilege not to really, being in the wolds!) I even went on to do English language at A Level; never thought of getting anyone with the accent to read it though. Amazing thank you for the recommendation 🤩

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herwiththepurplehair@reddit

Also I can recommend a book called “The Brides of Enderby” by Ralph Townley - he grew up I think in Horncastle, and the book is about his childhood. My copy is quite old but you might find a used copy on Amazon or eBay.

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Green-Thought23@reddit

Thank you so much, never heard of this book. Sounds very interesting from Google. I have ordered. My husband is going to wonder what has happened. This will be the 7th book in as many days 🤣 (I’m not much of a reader these days but recently spending more time at home and there’s only so much cleaning a person can do!)

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Jack-Rabbit-002@reddit

Everyone I've met from Lincolnshire I've met and they've just used the word c*nt alot That's why I wouldn't take my Mom

Despite her liking little English market towns mostly filled with pubs

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Green-Thought23@reddit

Not all are like that. I wasn’t allowed to say “crap” growing up 😂 Grandparents never drank or swore. I’m mean, they were brought up Methodist so a lot of words were not acceptable, especially not the C-bomb 🙈

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herwiththepurplehair@reddit

Don’t bring her to Scotland then 😂😂😂 they use it like punctuation

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Jack-Rabbit-002@reddit

Oh see I'm from Brum Lol

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Green-Thought23@reddit

I used to travel to Birmingham a lot for training and never heard it at all, I’m surprised that “bab” is a thing there. Thanks for sharing ☺️

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YupItWasMeMate@reddit

It’s regional. Normal in Staffordshire or Chester for example.

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AwkwardTie9427@reddit

Very common up North England by men and women. Down in Essex and East of England, lots of women with certain dialects say "allriiigghhhhtttt darling??" "Darling" is the replacement for "love" in the South.

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quaranteenagedirtbag@reddit

West Country has both my durrlin' and my lurrve! And indeed my loverr

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

Thank you!

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AwkwardTie9427@reddit

I forgot to add that "lovely" is also a Southern expression. Don't know why they use that instead of "love"!

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Take_that_risk@reddit

Outside London.

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Manbry@reddit

Love, sweetheart, petal. Grown up hearing all of them. Liverpool and Cheshire areas.

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itsadrianastinga@reddit

Very common in Midlands, shops, post office, etc

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ElwoodFenris27@reddit

I think in most places, maybe more so in kent or up north. Not so much cambridgeshire unless its older people.

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lela7188@reddit

Very common, where I'm from in the northeast of England, we usually say 'pet' instead.

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Sufficient_Nose_197@reddit

Very common. It's more 'pet' where I am from though.

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BiteSnap@reddit

It’s normal up North

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jayphelps57@reddit

“My lovely “ has become much used in more recent times

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NotAnotherThing@reddit

People say it to me before they realize I have lived her for a few decades. Lol

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tea_would_be_lovely@reddit

very common in some parts of the country

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

Which parts?

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Constant-Map7687@reddit

Lancashire as well . I heard it a mot in Manchester but I dont know if thats still the case.

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gavingoober771@reddit

Can’t speak for everywhere but definitely Yorkshire

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Apprehensive-Art1092@reddit

Also Lancashire, and London (grew up in London, moved to Lancashire over 10 years ago)

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Mikon_Youji@reddit

South Wales too.

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gliitch0xFF@reddit

As well as Birmingham too.

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gothreepwood101@reddit

Its common in east anglia as well

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

Thank you!

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Constant-Ad9390@reddit

Why you asking love?

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

Oh I’m just curious. This all stemmed from me watching my fav episode of Extras with David Bowie and I just get a kick out of when he says ‘come closer love I can’t hear you’

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Constant-Ad9390@reddit

Haha I was joking with you. It’s very common where I am love.

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

<3

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CompleteDot9383@reddit

And the North East

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WonFriendsWithSalad@reddit

In Devon I often get "lovely" or "my lovely" from other women

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OneOfTheNephilim@reddit

The dinner ladies at school when I was a kid always called us 'moi loverrrr' with a thick Devon burr

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ProgressMiserable878@reddit

I'm Lancashire and I say to all female friends hi lovely. My friends in London call me love.

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AppropriateDeal1034@reddit

In Cornwall, many many older people will refer to near strangers as "my lover".

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Jesskla@reddit

My grandma used to call everyone my lover. It's so endearing, I miss hearing it in that charming Cornish accent.

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tea_would_be_lovely@reddit

not uncommon to hear it in london

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Oobedoo321@reddit

Portsmouth here and just replied to someone on here with ‘oh my love’

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tea_would_be_lovely@reddit

just popped out to my local cafe (west london), was greeted with "what can i get you, my love." on the way back, ran into my neighbour who asked me "how are you, my darlin'"

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CheeryShortarse@reddit

Buckinghamshire- my duck.

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FormicaDinette33@reddit

Watch Below Deck Down Under. The British chef said it after every sentence to his assistant and she got pissed.

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Domesticated-Feral@reddit

I’m in Yorkshire and have the unbreakable habit of saying lovey to everyone.

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RiverTadpolez@reddit

It isn't really said in Scotland. I think it's mainly said in the north of England.

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urg0blinfriend@reddit

Very common where I’m from! I’m from Liverpool and I love it when old scouse Nans and Grandads call me “Kid”, it warms my heart. In one job I was in, all of my coworkers used “chick” which was really sweet!

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Academic_Vanilla_736@reddit

Liverpool here. Almost every person I've ever met or known uses some form of darlin', hun, love, my lovely, babe or mate. 😊

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FoodByCourts@reddit

I accidentally said it at work, and considering I'm in the HR team, it went down like a lead balloon.

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Alternative-Kiwi1221@reddit

In my 28 years on this earth, I've met one, just some random 19 year old guy

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Far_Bad_531@reddit

Perfectly normal where I live (in all ages)

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No_Professor_1624@reddit

relatively common but it is much more an older generation thing

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HamsterTowel@reddit

Depends on what part of which country.

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No_Professor_1624@reddit

yes maybe you are right

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sneijder@reddit

I’ve had ‘Babe’ in Liverpool.

I’m male and of an age I’m teaching my daughter to drive.

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ItAintNoUse@reddit

It's pretty common, and can be used in a versatile way. Tone alone can change it from very general, to endearing, to patronising or even mocking.

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Round_Cardiologist32@reddit

Speaking from past experience, it is generally older people who say it and it’s very much depends on what part of the country you in

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Leading-Late@reddit

Londoner here. I use it pretty much every day with strangers. Generally when I'm saying thank you, such as in a shop or a cafe. I'll say "Thanks love/ Cheers, my love" etc

It's definitely much more of a working class thing, I don't hear folk saying it. And it's for informal settings, I wouldn't use it at work.

There are variations of it around the country. Up in Nottingham you might also hear "duck" used in a similar way, or "chuck" in more Northern towns.

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penguin57@reddit

I'm from Essex originally, I still have to mentally check myself from using it more often as I don't want to offend. Along with mate, darlin' and dear, it's a very common term in Essex, typically used when talking to someone of the same or older generation rather than someone younger, except in familiar company.

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

Do you ever combine to say darling dear?

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penguin57@reddit

Only if it's my wife and I'm trying to butter her up.

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Shot-Ad-363@reddit

in the south cashiers call you "my lovely" and literally nobody likes it lol i've even seen people snap at the cashiers for saying it, they think it's the same as calling them old

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Far-Hospital-9961@reddit

Some will say it’s regional, but I personally think it’s more class-based (and despite what Reddit will lead you to believe ‘North ≠ automatic working class & South ≠ automatic MC’.

In my experience, I’ve found the working classes more likely to use pet names for strangers whereas the middle classes find it a tad… overfamiliar.

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

Oooh that makes sense. A thank you!

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GeekerJ@reddit

Defo regional and even more common here in Yorkshire for the older generations.

I also use duck which I understand is more a Derbyshire thing. We aren’t that far away tho.

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not_microwave_safe@reddit

I do it all the time even though I hate everyone.

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

Oh drat, that’s a bummer!

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neilm1000@reddit

This feels like an AI or LLM training question.

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

lol I’m just gal who happens to be obsessed with David Bowie in Extra’s. You know when he says come closer love, I can’t hear you swoon

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sniffing_dog@reddit

In Stoke they've replaced love with duck.

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Altruistic-Table5859@reddit

Cringey and patronising.

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HamsterTowel@reddit

Depends on the tone, age of the speaker, and part of the country. It's completely normal and not patronising or cringy in some contexts.

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Altruistic-Table5859@reddit

It's a certain people in Ireland who call women love and not as a term of endearment but in a "keep the little woman in her place" type of way. Most people don't like being called love/darling by people they don't know.

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Sad_Firefighter_8407@reddit

Sooooo. Regional variations apply but 'love' is universal pretty much I think.

other terms of endearment could be:

Hinny (Honey in Tyneside terms)
Duck
Mucker
Me old china (as in china plate = mate)
Cock ( I kid you not this is real and it isn't meant as an insult in the context)

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HamsterTowel@reddit

Don't forget Wales. Mun, and bach.

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Skinnybet@reddit

In Derbyshire we say duck. Some places say love or pet. People who aren’t local find duck really funny.

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HamsterTowel@reddit

Some places say "petal", or "hun". I'm in South Wales - it's often "mun" for men or "bach" for women.

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False-Act-9609@reddit

It's a midlands thing in the UK. Some older generations of southerners too but it's very common in the midlands

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This-Willow-4655@reddit

London, well i say it All the time love, why do you ask 👍

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BillyD123455@reddit

Wait until you get called Duck .. or 'cock' even

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

Yes, being called a cock will definitely throw me off

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BillyD123455@reddit

Haha yep, i was a bit taken aback too. Can't even remember where it was now. A fish shop down South somewhere, 30 odd years ago, if I recall 🤷🏼‍♂️

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clovenheart1066@reddit

Women of a certain age tend to call one another babes. I call kids sweets, because sweetheart is a bit too familair.

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tacobinky@reddit

Common here in London

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Kirsty-Bear@reddit

I F 44 use 'love' 'lovely' 'hun' indiscriminately my vocab is as tactile as my physical!

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Extra-Ebb-3529@reddit

I do it all the time, mainly because I’m terrible at remembering people’s names

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

Ha! A perfect save

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VariousBeat9169@reddit

The one thing that baffles me is that some people can just make it part of a conversation and it sounds natural. Definitely not me!

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

Like David Bowie <3

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Altruistic-Table5859@reddit

It's the travellers who call everyone love in Ireland and it's derogatory when they use it.

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

So the English folk who visit Ireland say love to the Irish to remind them of the long standing hatred?

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Signal_Cadet@reddit

I think they might mean Irish Travellers, which are Irish people who live in caravans/mobile homes and usually travel nomadically from place to place.

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

Interesting!

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hikam1@reddit

it's literally part of my daily vernacular if i'm speaking to a woman

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raabones@reddit

Here in Plymouth it is a thing. When I first moved here a lady working in sainsburys called me "treasure" when serving me and i personally loved it.

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Previous-Ad7618@reddit

I am called love by a stranger at least once a day

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FPRorNothing@reddit

Extremely common

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South_Body_569@reddit

I am middle aged and from the south. I call people love or sweetheart.

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SaluteMaestro@reddit

Bab or love in the midlands. Love is an older generation thing Bab I hear most days.

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No_Cattle_8433@reddit

It’s normal.

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janeygigi@reddit

Yep, common in Edinburgh and Scottish Borders. We do also love "doll" and "hen".

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romoladesloups@reddit

Regional, northern most likely

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Confudled_Contractor@reddit

Fucking everywhere mucker!

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Ok-Exam6702@reddit

Where I live (Devon) I’m sometimes called ‘my lover’!

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

You must be joking lol

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Ok-Exam6702@reddit

Yep, term of endearment and pronounced “me luvver”!

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

Lol

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TwistMeTwice@reddit

Nope, it's true in Cornwall too!

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Wolfdee@reddit

Very very common in Yorkshire, first time my male family member was ever called "love" by a male bartender and it flabbergasted him 🤣 not in a mean way but just confused 🤣 His partner was from Yorkshire so she was used to it

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jonathanemptage@reddit

It's more common in the north and often from a woman or girl to a usually though not exclusively younger man or boy.

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Shut_YourMouth@reddit

my teacher calls our class that…

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FuzzyJumper3@reddit

I'm in the midlands, I hear "my love" a lot more than "love". A workmate is Welsh and calls people flower which I think is fantastic.

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

I think that is fantastic too

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HalfAgony-HalfHope@reddit

Very common. Particularly up north.

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kenma91@reddit

Common in yorkshire

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SnooEpiphanies8006@reddit

I hate it and will never use it. And I'm from Yorkshire!

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thewaifandstray@reddit

I'm from Lincoln but spent all my school holidays in central London. I call everyone my love, lovely, darling and sweetheart. Whether it's my kids, their teacher, my Mum, other half, bus driver, HMRC, the staff in the supermarket. I've noticed I do it a lot more now I'm slightly older (37).

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Salty-Value8837@reddit

It depends where in the UK. In Scotland it's not used at all, in Ireland either.

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Ilsluggo@reddit

I hear it everyday in London, though most of my social group are old enough to remember Queen Victoria. As a child.

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Commercial_Mode1469@reddit

Common in Belfast too. I remember being surprised when visiting Derbyshire they said duck instead.

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Gary5757@reddit

Yes most places up north and probably down south as well

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Nicky2512@reddit

Very common

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woodstar11@reddit

In North Staffordshire it's "duck" man or woman.

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Serious-Glove-9077@reddit

It Chester, you get called duck 😁

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Feisty-Lifeguard-550@reddit

I’m in Glasgow , I’m female and I call people love , pet ,doll , darling other terms of endearment. My family and friends do too

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

How wonderful

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Feisty-Lifeguard-550@reddit

Thanks love

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PM_ME_UR_MANICURE@reddit

When I was in York and Manchester everyone of all ages called me "mate" if they were a guy, and "luv" if they were a girl, it was nice lol. I mean now I'm in the south and all the guys still call me mate but the girls mostly don't use any kind of name but sometimes they say mate too

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YourLittleRuth@reddit

It's regional. In Norfolk, we are 'lovelies'.

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mightyfine87@reddit

More a location thing I believe

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Paulstan67@reddit

Quite common, love is used especially but not exclusively in northern England.

There are other terms used around the country.

Lovely , me duck, to name two.

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Kratuu_II@reddit

In the North-East you might get "Pet", but less often as you get older.

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EatingCoooolo@reddit

Very common here in London.

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KizzyHew@reddit

To me, everyone is called love, sweetheart, babe, bruv or mate

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PushingZedzzzzz@reddit

We also have a tendency to call every 'mate' too

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HollyGoLately@reddit

Regional

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Boring-Regret2076@reddit

Luv in Manchester also

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JemimaHippo@reddit

Irish living in Yorkshire and I use it all the time. I could be talking to my spouse, my boss, or woman who just served me in the local shop - thanks love! 😁

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wonky-hex@reddit

I live in Yorkshire. I hear it multiple times a day.

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deathpunk1890@reddit

I am a woman in Essex and I get called 'Love' by older working class people, usually men, all the time. Probably most days in fact. I work in a small family business and my stepdad (in his late 60s) calls literally every single woman who phones us 'love'. My East End cockney relatives all say it a lot too.

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CakieStephie@reddit

I call everyone lovely. I'm mid 30s from the midlands. But very mumsy haha.

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tea_would_be_lovely@reddit

i used to know a very charming lady from ireland who called everyone "my lovely."

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

How sweet, my Gran was from Ireland

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BellendBuilder@reddit

You reyt love?

Common where I’m from in Yorkshire.

Doesn’t matter if you’re a bird or bloke. Love still applies.

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odjobz@reddit

Or cocker. A'right cock.

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BellendBuilder@reddit

Cockerspadge for the full Yorkshire experience 😅

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kesselbang@reddit

It depends where you are in the UK. You may, according to where you find yourself be called

Love/lovey Chook Hinny Duck/Duckie Sweetheart Mate/matey Chick Darlin Mester/Missus

Or any one of the local terms. Where I grew up, 'Duck' was the usual term. 'Love' was also used a lot.

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Rubberfootman@reddit

I knew a girl who moved from a “Love” area to “Duck” country. She called everyone “Dove” for a while.

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HellofHoops@reddit

Midlands is ‘bab’ ….

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BabyClyde@reddit

I say it all the time and I'm from London/Kent.

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Psylaine@reddit

Me too and I'm in Sussex its surprisingly common, must shock the Northerners when they visit, they think they hold a monopoly on friendly lol

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the_speeding_train@reddit

Very common. Even more common in the north.

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Mancsn0tLancs@reddit

For me it’s Pet.

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LazyPiglet3923@reddit

Im in Yorkshire and say "love" , also say "cobbler" , "cock sparrow" "cock" "old fruit" and "Marrow"

I never used to, some of it was taking the piss but it's settled into my language now.

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waveform06@reddit

Builders and tradesmen call each other love where I'm from.

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Tennonboy@reddit

My ex boss called everyone love whether he'd known them 20 years or just met them. Until he called a receptionist at a local school love she rail roaded him, I'm not your love. And never will be, plus lots more choice words. Is reply OK dear don't get your knickers in a twist.......not sure if she ever came down from the ceiling but he didn't get the work he was quoting for

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Psylaine@reddit

Wow you would have expected somone in a customer facing role to recognise a generic greeting when they heard it and react accordingly, perhaps she was facing some issues or gender bias in the work place.

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SuomiBob@reddit

I’m in the fire bridge, we could each other love and darling. Quite common in our job.

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Vast_Accountant_2807@reddit

Never once called a woman or girl a pet name that wasn’t a partner. My male friends get called ‘darling, ‘sweet pea’ and ‘sugar plum’ all the time.

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Tonybham01@reddit

I hear it in the south mainly. In the midlands people say Bab. In Stoke they say duck.

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Sad-Video-2605@reddit

36 from East Yorkshire and we all say ". Love." here.. OK love?

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

Love it❤️

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MiddleAgedDread123@reddit

I am from the north and have never called anyone “love”. It’s derogatory IMO

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Apprehensive-List794@reddit

I do it all the time love. It’s just how I speak. I like to make sure people know that even if our interaction is brief I still consider it worthwhile.

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DisastrousCoast2967@reddit (OP)

That is so sweet

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joeyharris441@reddit

20 and I say it

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andycwb1@reddit

Definitely a regional thing. You’ll also hear ‘my lover’ in Cornwall, and ‘mi duck’ around Derbyshire. And of course, particularly actors refer to everyone as ‘darling’. There’s a Welsh word ‘ arias’ that also means ‘darling’ or ‘love’ - interestingly I’d use that with a close friend in Welsh, but I wouldn’t call her darling if we were speaking English. Neither of us is fluent in Welsh, but we do like to practise what we do know.

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Gullible-Yam-8098@reddit

Both, it's regional and more common in older generations.

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Fallout4Addict@reddit

Very common

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jeanclaudebrowncloud@reddit

Even birds say it

https://youtube.com/shorts/4wtYhrCy7lk?si=h9GtUCnXhlcuc3Ls

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UnspeakableBadger@reddit

In the north west (Manchester, Lancashire, the Lake District etc.), it’s not at all uncommon, and generally seen as a pleasant way to communicate.

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Purple-Hamster499@reddit

It's canny common in Newcastle and surrounding areas.

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Madog-Hellgeese@reddit

Birmingham - I use Bab alot, for both men and women. I do try and mix it up with Shag, cobber, luv, duck, Chucky egg, "Me old [insert any word that comes to mind]" etc

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skloop@reddit

Fairly common in the west country too

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Urist_Macnme@reddit

Hen, Pet, Love, Sugar, Dear, Darling, Chuck, Duck,

It’s not uncommon to address people informally in the UK.

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BenchClamp@reddit

‘My Lover’ is the West Country version.

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tranquessence@reddit

I read this in the accent 🤣

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Japhet_Corncrake@reddit

It's pretty common, but considered quite old fashioned and somewhat sexist and condescending if a man uses it to address a woman.

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PurplePlodder1945@reddit

Lots of people use it where I am in the south wales valleys

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Creative-Bobcat-7159@reddit

Regional and very common in some places.

As a closeted gay boy I used to love it when the big burly sandwich vendor would call me “love” when I lived in South Yorkshire.

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mcshaggin@reddit

It's a regional thing. Don't really hear it where I live

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tranquessence@reddit

I’m south west and it’s pretty common down here too

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becpuss@reddit

Common but depends on age and region

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Alarmed-Secretary-39@reddit

Common up 'ere duck

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CosiDuci@reddit

I’ll get five „loves“ everyone the postman rings it’s sooo sweet. Good morning love, how’s it going love? here you are love! have a great day love! good bye love

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bravedolphin1@reddit

I remember a northern bus driver calling people cock 🐓 as they got on the bus lol could be worse

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middleagedfatbloke@reddit

It's more 'me luver' down here in the south west

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shortydont@reddit

Love, pet, flower, sweetheart. Loads of them. Goes both ways as well. I’m male and get called love and pet all the time

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Lynex_Lineker_Smith@reddit

Very common me duck, sorry , love .

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Paolosmiteo@reddit

Rarely in the south, and if it is used it’s usually from those originally from the north.

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jonpenryn@reddit

In Cornwall it could well be "My lover" or "my bird" or even "My 'andsom" or "maid"

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Yolandi2802@reddit

Depends. Little old ladies.. yes. Grumpy old men.. never.

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loveswimmingpools@reddit

A bit of both i think . But as I get older I find being called love more endearing than i used to.

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FCRondon@reddit

Hen

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ODFoxtrotOscar@reddit

Regional thing

More likely to be ‘pet’ for me

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FishUK_Harp@reddit

Very common in the North West. I'm not even native to these parts and I've found myself using it.

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PootMcGroot@reddit

There are versions that are very common in different parts of the country - love, duck, darling, lovely etc.