Australian terms of endearment?

[Kryianna]

Here in the US we use hon, babe, baby, sweetie, sweetheart (and more, depending on region). What do Australians use for their significant others?

[Mandy-Jane]

love, darl, honey, sweetie, sugar, lots of slang ones that I wouldn't really know, and probably many many more.

[chevbrock]

What age group are we talking, Kryianna? "Darl" is an old standard. Think of that classic movie, "The Castle" - "What do you call this, Darl?" "Sausages." I'm a shocker - I call anyone I speak to, stranger or no, "Darl". It's awful!

Younger generations tend to use "Babe" and "Baby" a lot. I hear my 23 year old nephew call his other "Fluffy" or "Fluff". Although I've never heard anyone else call their girlfriend that.

[Kryianna]

Thirty-forty somethings.

What's 'Darl'? Darling?

[Mandy-Jane]

Yes, Darl is short for Darling.

[eleven]

Love and darl are probably the most common for middle aged people, and would be used more by the lower classes/rural/uneducated types. They are also terms that are used to address other people, not just significant others.
Australians are not as openly affectionate or sentimental as Americans, and most middle class/ educated/ urban types would probably not use a term of endearment, unless it was something personal that they used privately or jokingly. BUt if they did it would probably be dear or darling.

[chevbrock]

Thanks for the boost, eleven. I'm lower class, rural and uneducated! :)

(actually, I really am!)

[Mandy-Jane]

Thanks for the boost, eleven. I'm lower class, rural and uneducated! :)

(actually, I really am!)

Pretty sure I am too!

[Stormhawk]

I use "dear" more often than is probably normal, both on my fiancé and my best friend.

[Jo]

I call my hubby hon and babe (not telling our private nicks :tongue) and he calls me babe and gorgeous... :Shrug:We wouldn't use darl (we're in the thirty-forty somethings group). Nuh-uh. Nope. Hubby just tried using it...