"Darling, could you pass the salt?" The word is a term of endearment, warm and slightly formal. It comes from the Old English "deorling," meaning a beloved person. It is used between romantic partners, parents and children, and sometimes strangers in a friendly way. A waitress in a diner might call you darling. A grandmother definitely will.

Darling carries a different tone than "honey" or "babe." It is more polished, more deliberate. It can be affectionate or condescending. "Darling, you have no idea what you are talking about" is a put-down. The word is a velvet glove. It can hold a hand or a knife. Context decides.

Related terms

• Dear: similar, slightly more formal.
• Honey: sweeter, more casual.
• Sweetheart: affectionate, often for children.
• Love: British, very common, gender-neutral.

Darling is a word with history. It appears in letters, novels, and songs. It is not trendy. It is not slang. It is a classic. That is its strength. It does not need to try hard. It just is.