Science says: this is why we give our partner nicknames

Hi sweeties. Let me start by saying that I find pet names quite sweet and nice. Except for a few. I heard someone say ‘kanjer’ to her partner the other day. Brrr. My neck hairs almost stand on end. ‘Spetter’. Something like that. Enormously 80s. ’Moppie‘: a bit too Lange Frans goes 2003. Then we enter the category of excrement, because that seems to be incredibly popular to stay on theme: scheetje. Drolletje. Poeperdje. Why do people do this? ’Poepiekakkieliefjescheeeeetje‘. Do you really think your love finds it sexy when you call them that?

Another one: beertje and/or booboo. Sounds very cute between you and him, but a lot less cool among his friends. Just like ventje, mannetje, skattie and that kind of nonsense. What is actually nice? Something that is truly unique between you and that person. And if it falls into the category of ‘koekiemonstertje’, never tell anyone. It stays fun for you, eh, honneponnie.

So, why do we actually do this? According to Professor Dean Falk from Florida State University, it may be related to your mother. According to him, pet names are comparable to baby talk. You know, that voice we put on when we talk to babies. The language that exists to help babies learn to talk and at the same time show love to strengthen the bond between mother and child.

A bit creepy, but here it comes: ‘Couples who talk to each other this way return to their own experiences from when they were children. And to their first love, their mother,’ says the professor. And whether those pet names were born from an inside joke or not, the fact that you have them together means that your relationship is doing well. It's actually just a way of expressing connection. Awh. And that's actually very sweet...