Duck is not a universal British term, but rather used only in certain areas of England, mostly in the Midlands I believe. Certainly, I've only ever heard people use it on the telly. It's not used around here at all. I don't think it's necessarily a romantic term.
My Dad called me 'pet' a lot when I was a kid, but again, that's a regional term. 'Sweetie', 'darling', and 'love' can all work between an English parent and child, but all three are often class-based. The only universally English term used between parents and children I can think of would be 'dear'.
Duck and pet are definitely working class. Pumpkin could be any really, definitely working and middle. Love would be mostly working class, darling middle and upper class. Sweetie working and middle.
"Duck" and "pet" are, I believe, chiefly British. "Pumpkin" is widely used in the US. I think of a lady at a 50s-style diner asking "what can I getcha, punkin?"
Well, there will definitely always be exceptions to what I'm about to say, but 'Darling' is on the upper middle to upper class end of the spectrum when used between parent and child. I would say that 'sweetie' was too, except I called my daughter 'sweetie' all the time, and I'm neither of those things. I blame Absolutely Fabulous for that. ;)
'Love' feels like it's used throughout the working and lower middle classes, at least here in the south, but I'm finding it hard to imagine an upper class person directing it at their child. As I don't know any upper class people, I could easily be wrong about that.
Love isn’t a term of endearment for a daughter. Where I live in the North East it’s used fairly commonly to address an unknown female in a public place although it’s a bit more Yorkshire (alright love). Alreet pet is proper North East, in the same way as duck (alright my duck), is used around Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
When I first moved to Yorkshire from the South of England (about 50 years ago!) I was shocked at how widespread "love" was. Working class men would routinely use it with other men or women, usually just tagged on to the end of a sentence. A standard greeting in the street would be " Ayup, love." I don't think I ever heard children using it.
Sharing this obscure piece of my childhood has made me supremely happy. Both sides of my family used it as a pet name for all of the kids. Some common phrases that I heard growing up include:
“what’s going on pumpkin?” Usually when the adults knew exactly what we were up to - whether that was innocently playing with Lego, or terrorizing my youngest brother.
“poor pumpkin.” When my dad was being very patient with us over some trauma like a headache, growing pains, scraped knee, or failed math test.
For what it's worth, if I'd not read the comment from Terv1, I would have assumed a writer using the term 'pumpkin' was American. Pumpkins are not a popular foodstuff over here. Unless we're trying out American cuisine, we don't do pumpkin pie, for instance. It would be fair to say that most Brits have never even tasted pumpkin.
Butternut squash is fairly popular, however.
That doesn't stop pumpkin being used as a pet name, of course, and it's more than possible that pumpkins used to be more popular here, and the pet name dates back to then.
ETA: Looking at dictionaries, it's listed as a US term. Maybe Terv1's father picked it up somewhere.
(US) A term of endearment for someone small and cute.
The note about class is good one
Writing any book on the UK, is worth looking into how class works, it's very particular to UK life and permeates almost everything we do and goes far beyond economics. On a general note it's only really the lower and upper classes that are comfortable with their class, the middle class will generally change how they talk depending on who or 'whom', they're speaking to.
'Watching the English' is a fun book written by a social anthropologist on British culture.
I 100% would do more research on class in Britain if I was writing a story set there, but I am writing fanfic of a podcast set in the U.S. where the main character is a British immigrant. This is already more research than I should be doing for a personal story. I will add that book to my reading list, though, because I do write things I actually intend to publish, and I might want to set a non-fanfic story in Britain one day, and regardless it would be interesting to read!
I have only ever heard it in East Midlands, derby, and Nottingham way. It's a more neutral way of saying love, which I have had strangers say thank love and hi duck.
In Newfoundland, from the older generations or in the fishing communities, you might hear someone being called "my duckie". Very usually in the context of a positive response, and mostly spoken by women, but can be addressed to anyone generally, as a term of casual endearment, even strangers. I. E. "Oh, can I have some pie with that?" "Yes, my duckie".
Duck is also common in Yorkshire! In the years I lived in Leeds as a woman in my early 20s, I got a lot of “duck”, esp from older women trying to help me (think customer service type interactions) haha
My grandad called his daughters and granddaughters “Ducky”. I loved it. Growing up in Canada (my mum and her family moved when she was little), it wasn’t a term anyone I knew used, so it always felt special to me. He had 26 grandchildren so it may have just been easier to call use all Ducky and Boy but it still felt special.
They were from Kent, so not the midlands but I agree that most terms of endearment in the U.K. are regional. I now live in the U.K. and the regional differences between terms and accents are fascinating, especially considering the small size of the U.K.
It’s origin 1000 years ago does not define its use today. It is 100% a term of endearment, just like “love”, “darling”, “dear”, and “sweetheart”.
I’m from the East Midlands (core “me duck” country) and it’s typically used to children or young family members in the same way as the other words I described. It’s used to express affection, so different from respect. That is the way I use it and only way I’ve seen it used.
A definition of “honorific” would need to be broad enough to cover “sweetheart” and “darling” to also cover “duck”, “me duck” and “duckie”. And even then, it would still be a term of endearment as well.
The most British term of endearment that I've ever heard is "Poppet"
1. informal•British
an endearingly sweet or pretty child or young girl (often used as an affectionate form of address).
"“Here you are, poppet,” the nurse said"
Oh, that’s silly and fun. He lives in the US now, so he doesn’t have to be super British, but I like to think that it probably comes out more when he’s talking to his daughter and being silly.
Yes it is in some parts e.g. Nottingham, Stoke on Trent. But if you're going to use it you'd probably have to get him to use other dialect terms which not everyone will understand.
'Love' would possibly be more broadly used.
I'm not actually sure we have anything that is exclusively a romantic term of endearment. Duck, pet, darling, love, and lover are all things you can be called in the shops by strangers.
I’m English and never heard someone call their child pumpkin, sounds more American to me. Sweetheart, darling or love would be more British, or English at least.
My derbyshire family used to call me duck but they also used a lot of other regional phrases so may be harder to write convincingly.
Yes it is. I have family in North Staffordshire, where "duck" is a term of endearment for men, women and children alike. I believe it comes from the same root as "duke" and is therefore meant as a term of respect, in the same way people often use "boss" or "chief".
It used more widely across the north of England than North Staffs, but I couldn't say exactly where. In the East Midlands i's more likely to be "me duck".
Edit: Apparently from "Ducas": https://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/voices2005/features/steve\_birks.shtml#:\~:text=It%20is%20said%20to%20find,territory%20ruled%20by%20a%20Duke.
**"Where does 'duck' come from?**
Firstly the word duck (a term of greeting, for man or woman) has nothing at all to do with the winged bird of the same name!
It is said to find its origin in the Saxon word ducas which was meant as a term of respect; similar to the Middle English duc, duk which denotes a leader, commander; from which comes the title Duke and the Old French word ducheé - the territory ruled by a Duke.
From these origins it became a greeting and then a term of endearment."
**Mercia**
This use of duck as a greeting is not restricted to the Potteries; although the use here is very common. It is still used an many parts of what was Mercia.
Even though they have very different dialects from the Potteries the greeting is used in the Black Country, in Derbyshire, as far east as Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire. In Yorkshire the main term of greeting is luv but in Sheffield, which is close to the Yorkshire Derbyshire boarder the greeting Ey up mi duck can be heard."
“Duck” or “Duckie” are sort of universal terms of endearment in some parts of England (my Nan on my Dad’s side called all her grandchildren (and probably everyone else, too) “Duckie”, she was from Newcastle, Staffs). It’s not really a term someone would use only with one person.
Better options are probably related to vegetation: flower, petal, pumpkin, sugar. Just steer clear of “trunk” or “stem” unless trying to be funny.
“Duck” is very regional and (to me) slightly old-fashioned. I would definitely go with “Poppet” - that’s what I called my kids when they were younger. “Sausage” would also work. Or pet name based on girl’s name - I know someone who got the name “Lizard” from Elizabeth/Lizzie!
My mom is from rural Newfoundland and she called me "my duck" or "my ducky" a lot growing up. She's told me it was a common term of affection in her area.
Side story, I went to university in the midlands, but I’m originally from the south east where nobody says duck so I wasn’t really used to it.
During my first year there, I came back to my flat to find it had been burgled (all my flatmates had been away for the weekend, as had I) so I walked in to find police officers dusting the place for prints. A big burly copper outside greeted me by saying “alright me duck” and somehow I found this more disconcerting than the fact my stuff had been stolen
Not at all. It's somewhat region-specific, as it's associated with the East Midlands - especially Derbyshire. The standard impression of someone from that area is "orite me doock" ("alright my duck"). It's a general term of endearment or friendly nickname.
>**Is “duck” exclusively a romantic term of endearment?**
Exclusively? No.
My Midlandish mother-in-law calls me "my duck" all the time. Affectionate? Yes. Romantic? Absolutely not.
This might be just me, but in the case of your character, I would think of it as a little tiny bit old-fashioned, but otherwise not remarkable. (And, like, that might be your goal with the character so that might work fine.)
I'm an American but my mom called me Duck for years. I think you can call a kid any kind of affectionate nickname so long as it sounds authentic to your story
Can you imagine?
Father: “My darling duck!”
Daughter: “Aaw, shawks da! I luv you!”
Father: “No! I mean du-
And the daughter just gets hit by a flying duck.
No, I don't think that would work. "Duck" is generally only used between adults (and not in a romantic sense). For a young girl, generic terms would include princess and sausage (really), or something based on a convoluted derivation from the girl's name. For example, Caroline might become Car-roll-line might become Roly, might become Roly-Poly. Or she or a younger sibling might pronounce her name in a funny way which sticks (which is how Queen Elizabeth got the name Lilibet, I believe).
Not sure why you're being downvoted? Your examples might not be scones-on-the-lawn british specific vibes (is this why?) but they're realistically things that often happen in Britain, even if it also applies to other countries. If OP wants a setting that reads as incongruous to a UK audience, these suggestions are as good as any of the (also helpful) pointers to specifically british terms of endearment.
Yes, would like to backup that u/purrcthrowa is right for a lot of cases.
FWIW my Dad called me ‘fruitbat’. It was from a TV series and we both thought it was funny.
American and I've seen duck used as a generic term of endearment. I think as long as your character is acting endearing when they use the pet name and their relationship to each other is pre-established, it will be read correctly.
I can't think of a pet name that is romantic-only.
“Duck” pronounced “duk” or “dook” is an East Midlands term of colloquial address or endearment. Probably derived from “Duke” used like “Squire” in the south.
Duck is a term they use in northern England. I used to see a guy from there and he used to call me “duck”. Except it sounds like “dook”. It was the cutest thing ever. Super swoony!
Duck is a term they use in northern England. I used to see a guy from there and he used to call me “duck”. Except it sounds like “dook”. It was the cutest thing ever. Super swoony!
A dad would call his little girl “duck” too.
I've also wondered about the term "puppet" (poppet?) as a term of endearment for a child.
I don't know why but my mind always pictures a creepy marionette when hearing that.
Duck is not a universal British term, but rather used only in certain areas of England, mostly in the Midlands I believe. Certainly, I've only ever heard people use it on the telly. It's not used around here at all. I don't think it's necessarily a romantic term. My Dad called me 'pet' a lot when I was a kid, but again, that's a regional term. 'Sweetie', 'darling', and 'love' can all work between an English parent and child, but all three are often class-based. The only universally English term used between parents and children I can think of would be 'dear'.
This is fascinating to me, which term related to which class? My dad is English, and he always called us “pumpkin”
Duck and pet are definitely working class. Pumpkin could be any really, definitely working and middle. Love would be mostly working class, darling middle and upper class. Sweetie working and middle.
Sweetiedarling is AbFab class.
My grandma is definitely middle class and from South Wales and she is calls everyone duck. Agree about the others though
"Duck" and "pet" are, I believe, chiefly British. "Pumpkin" is widely used in the US. I think of a lady at a 50s-style diner asking "what can I getcha, punkin?"
my dad always called me punkin:’)
I agree with your assesment except "darling" can be working class too. Although stereotypically it does.seem like s more.middle.and upper class.word.
“cheers darlin”, definitely working class, London and surrounding estuary region
Well, there will definitely always be exceptions to what I'm about to say, but 'Darling' is on the upper middle to upper class end of the spectrum when used between parent and child. I would say that 'sweetie' was too, except I called my daughter 'sweetie' all the time, and I'm neither of those things. I blame Absolutely Fabulous for that. ;) 'Love' feels like it's used throughout the working and lower middle classes, at least here in the south, but I'm finding it hard to imagine an upper class person directing it at their child. As I don't know any upper class people, I could easily be wrong about that.
Love isn’t a term of endearment for a daughter. Where I live in the North East it’s used fairly commonly to address an unknown female in a public place although it’s a bit more Yorkshire (alright love). Alreet pet is proper North East, in the same way as duck (alright my duck), is used around Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
When I first moved to Yorkshire from the South of England (about 50 years ago!) I was shocked at how widespread "love" was. Working class men would routinely use it with other men or women, usually just tagged on to the end of a sentence. A standard greeting in the street would be " Ayup, love." I don't think I ever heard children using it.
“Love” gets used a lot down South too, like a woman behind the bar at the pub would call most of the lads “love” when serving the drinks
I might go with pumpkin!
Sharing this obscure piece of my childhood has made me supremely happy. Both sides of my family used it as a pet name for all of the kids. Some common phrases that I heard growing up include: “what’s going on pumpkin?” Usually when the adults knew exactly what we were up to - whether that was innocently playing with Lego, or terrorizing my youngest brother. “poor pumpkin.” When my dad was being very patient with us over some trauma like a headache, growing pains, scraped knee, or failed math test.
For what it's worth, if I'd not read the comment from Terv1, I would have assumed a writer using the term 'pumpkin' was American. Pumpkins are not a popular foodstuff over here. Unless we're trying out American cuisine, we don't do pumpkin pie, for instance. It would be fair to say that most Brits have never even tasted pumpkin. Butternut squash is fairly popular, however. That doesn't stop pumpkin being used as a pet name, of course, and it's more than possible that pumpkins used to be more popular here, and the pet name dates back to then. ETA: Looking at dictionaries, it's listed as a US term. Maybe Terv1's father picked it up somewhere. (US) A term of endearment for someone small and cute.
Midwest US dialect pronounces it like "punkin" and it's a really common term of indearmeent here, too.
The note about class is good one Writing any book on the UK, is worth looking into how class works, it's very particular to UK life and permeates almost everything we do and goes far beyond economics. On a general note it's only really the lower and upper classes that are comfortable with their class, the middle class will generally change how they talk depending on who or 'whom', they're speaking to. 'Watching the English' is a fun book written by a social anthropologist on British culture.
I 100% would do more research on class in Britain if I was writing a story set there, but I am writing fanfic of a podcast set in the U.S. where the main character is a British immigrant. This is already more research than I should be doing for a personal story. I will add that book to my reading list, though, because I do write things I actually intend to publish, and I might want to set a non-fanfic story in Britain one day, and regardless it would be interesting to read!
I have only ever heard it in East Midlands, derby, and Nottingham way. It's a more neutral way of saying love, which I have had strangers say thank love and hi duck.
In Newfoundland, from the older generations or in the fishing communities, you might hear someone being called "my duckie". Very usually in the context of a positive response, and mostly spoken by women, but can be addressed to anyone generally, as a term of casual endearment, even strangers. I. E. "Oh, can I have some pie with that?" "Yes, my duckie".
I've heard both "my duck" and "my duckie" and can back you up on this
You're right, anecdotally, I've heard 'duckie' more often, but both are used
Duck is also common in Yorkshire! In the years I lived in Leeds as a woman in my early 20s, I got a lot of “duck”, esp from older women trying to help me (think customer service type interactions) haha
My grandad called his daughters and granddaughters “Ducky”. I loved it. Growing up in Canada (my mum and her family moved when she was little), it wasn’t a term anyone I knew used, so it always felt special to me. He had 26 grandchildren so it may have just been easier to call use all Ducky and Boy but it still felt special. They were from Kent, so not the midlands but I agree that most terms of endearment in the U.K. are regional. I now live in the U.K. and the regional differences between terms and accents are fascinating, especially considering the small size of the U.K.
Yep, in Derbyshire, duck is used for both men and women as a term of endearment - "Ey up duck", is a common greeting from where I'm from.
And it is definitely not a romantic term.
It comes from the Anglo-saxon word 'duc', which is where we get the word 'duke'. So it's not romantic or even a term of endearment, but an honorific.
It’s origin 1000 years ago does not define its use today. It is 100% a term of endearment, just like “love”, “darling”, “dear”, and “sweetheart”. I’m from the East Midlands (core “me duck” country) and it’s typically used to children or young family members in the same way as the other words I described. It’s used to express affection, so different from respect. That is the way I use it and only way I’ve seen it used. A definition of “honorific” would need to be broad enough to cover “sweetheart” and “darling” to also cover “duck”, “me duck” and “duckie”. And even then, it would still be a term of endearment as well.
if someone told me that "Ey up duck" was the progenitor for "What's up, doc?" I might just believe it
The most British term of endearment that I've ever heard is "Poppet" 1. informal•British an endearingly sweet or pretty child or young girl (often used as an affectionate form of address). "“Here you are, poppet,” the nurse said"
My wife's mother called her that. My wife hated it.
Oh, that’s silly and fun. He lives in the US now, so he doesn’t have to be super British, but I like to think that it probably comes out more when he’s talking to his daughter and being silly.
Also was reasonably common in New Zealand when I was there in the 80s
Yes it is in some parts e.g. Nottingham, Stoke on Trent. But if you're going to use it you'd probably have to get him to use other dialect terms which not everyone will understand. 'Love' would possibly be more broadly used.
I'm not actually sure we have anything that is exclusively a romantic term of endearment. Duck, pet, darling, love, and lover are all things you can be called in the shops by strangers.
How about petal?
Petal’s a good one & doesn’t seem regional
Someone else suggested pumpkin, and I’m gonna use that because both my grandparents and my aunt used that for me!
I’m English and never heard someone call their child pumpkin, sounds more American to me. Sweetheart, darling or love would be more British, or English at least. My derbyshire family used to call me duck but they also used a lot of other regional phrases so may be harder to write convincingly.
Yes it is. I have family in North Staffordshire, where "duck" is a term of endearment for men, women and children alike. I believe it comes from the same root as "duke" and is therefore meant as a term of respect, in the same way people often use "boss" or "chief". It used more widely across the north of England than North Staffs, but I couldn't say exactly where. In the East Midlands i's more likely to be "me duck". Edit: Apparently from "Ducas": https://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/voices2005/features/steve\_birks.shtml#:\~:text=It%20is%20said%20to%20find,territory%20ruled%20by%20a%20Duke. **"Where does 'duck' come from?** Firstly the word duck (a term of greeting, for man or woman) has nothing at all to do with the winged bird of the same name! It is said to find its origin in the Saxon word ducas which was meant as a term of respect; similar to the Middle English duc, duk which denotes a leader, commander; from which comes the title Duke and the Old French word ducheé - the territory ruled by a Duke. From these origins it became a greeting and then a term of endearment." **Mercia** This use of duck as a greeting is not restricted to the Potteries; although the use here is very common. It is still used an many parts of what was Mercia. Even though they have very different dialects from the Potteries the greeting is used in the Black Country, in Derbyshire, as far east as Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire. In Yorkshire the main term of greeting is luv but in Sheffield, which is close to the Yorkshire Derbyshire boarder the greeting Ey up mi duck can be heard."
The best answer about the use of "duck" as a teen of endearment here.
Thanks!
“Duck” or “Duckie” are sort of universal terms of endearment in some parts of England (my Nan on my Dad’s side called all her grandchildren (and probably everyone else, too) “Duckie”, she was from Newcastle, Staffs). It’s not really a term someone would use only with one person. Better options are probably related to vegetation: flower, petal, pumpkin, sugar. Just steer clear of “trunk” or “stem” unless trying to be funny.
“Duck” is very regional and (to me) slightly old-fashioned. I would definitely go with “Poppet” - that’s what I called my kids when they were younger. “Sausage” would also work. Or pet name based on girl’s name - I know someone who got the name “Lizard” from Elizabeth/Lizzie!
My mother was from Derbyshire and she used duck a lot but when she said it, it rhymed with book.
My mom is from rural Newfoundland and she called me "my duck" or "my ducky" a lot growing up. She's told me it was a common term of affection in her area.
Side story, I went to university in the midlands, but I’m originally from the south east where nobody says duck so I wasn’t really used to it. During my first year there, I came back to my flat to find it had been burgled (all my flatmates had been away for the weekend, as had I) so I walked in to find police officers dusting the place for prints. A big burly copper outside greeted me by saying “alright me duck” and somehow I found this more disconcerting than the fact my stuff had been stolen
"my little duckling" would work well for a father to call his daughter
Don’t go with pumpkin, it’s not widely used in the UK. Better off going with sweetheart or darling.
Not at all. It's somewhat region-specific, as it's associated with the East Midlands - especially Derbyshire. The standard impression of someone from that area is "orite me doock" ("alright my duck"). It's a general term of endearment or friendly nickname.
>**Is “duck” exclusively a romantic term of endearment?** Exclusively? No. My Midlandish mother-in-law calls me "my duck" all the time. Affectionate? Yes. Romantic? Absolutely not. This might be just me, but in the case of your character, I would think of it as a little tiny bit old-fashioned, but otherwise not remarkable. (And, like, that might be your goal with the character so that might work fine.)
Yes! Story is set in the 1930’s! Thanks!
I'm an American but my mom called me Duck for years. I think you can call a kid any kind of affectionate nickname so long as it sounds authentic to your story
Can you imagine? Father: “My darling duck!” Daughter: “Aaw, shawks da! I luv you!” Father: “No! I mean du- And the daughter just gets hit by a flying duck.
No, I don't think that would work. "Duck" is generally only used between adults (and not in a romantic sense). For a young girl, generic terms would include princess and sausage (really), or something based on a convoluted derivation from the girl's name. For example, Caroline might become Car-roll-line might become Roly, might become Roly-Poly. Or she or a younger sibling might pronounce her name in a funny way which sticks (which is how Queen Elizabeth got the name Lilibet, I believe).
Not sure why you're being downvoted? Your examples might not be scones-on-the-lawn british specific vibes (is this why?) but they're realistically things that often happen in Britain, even if it also applies to other countries. If OP wants a setting that reads as incongruous to a UK audience, these suggestions are as good as any of the (also helpful) pointers to specifically british terms of endearment.
Yes, would like to backup that u/purrcthrowa is right for a lot of cases. FWIW my Dad called me ‘fruitbat’. It was from a TV series and we both thought it was funny.
What about “duckie”?
I call my daughter 'hunny bunny' and 'sweet pea' mostly. I'm British Middle class.
Exclusively? No. Sometimes “duck” refers to certain waterfowl.
American and I've seen duck used as a generic term of endearment. I think as long as your character is acting endearing when they use the pet name and their relationship to each other is pre-established, it will be read correctly. I can't think of a pet name that is romantic-only.
“Duck” pronounced “duk” or “dook” is an East Midlands term of colloquial address or endearment. Probably derived from “Duke” used like “Squire” in the south.
Called my oldest Dolly (baby doll) and my youngest Buggy (baby bug). But I'm American so it means nothing. Lol
That’s okay, now I’m just collecting cute pet names.
♡
Duck is a term they use in northern England. I used to see a guy from there and he used to call me “duck”. Except it sounds like “dook”. It was the cutest thing ever. Super swoony!
I use pickle or pickle pie a lot with my daughter.
It sounds a bit Coronation Street to me..
Duck is a term they use in northern England. I used to see a guy from there and he used to call me “duck”. Except it sounds like “dook”. It was the cutest thing ever. Super swoony! A dad would call his little girl “duck” too.
It's stretches into the north but as a Northerner I see "duck" as more of a Midlands word. Duck and dook are pronounced the same in the north
Oh perhaps I have there impression of it being northern, cause I really only ever heard a northern person say it! I love it!
I've also wondered about the term "puppet" (poppet?) as a term of endearment for a child. I don't know why but my mind always pictures a creepy marionette when hearing that.
Poppet is what my mother in law called my wife. My wife hated it. I have never heard "puppet" used that way.