If he starts messages with 'hi lovely'...

[ColdHandsColdFeetWarmHeart]

... how do I start mine?

He calls me 'lovely' and 'sweetheart' which I definitely like, but can't think of anything to reply with - what affectionate terms can you use for a man?

I'm 50+ and so out of practice with this!

Or dickhead... but I'm not sure that what's you're going for here 🤣

areet pet is what mine gets

@givemepiece

I'd go for the equally generic 'hey you'

Once he's a proper partner then 'hey love'

Oh no, that's way too Joe Goldberg

whats the regional term

in the midlands Bab is used widely

I would reply alright gorge!
But am daaan sarf so totally acceptable!

@Ted27

whats the regional term

in the midlands Bab is used widely

Bab is only used ironically these days

Tiger?

Bab is only used ironically these days

...and only in the West Midlands! It's not used in the East Midlands, where you are more likely to be called, 'Duck'!

Hi Hun/Babe immediately makes my teeth itch, and I'd really take my time in replying

You can call him lovely and sweetheart too!

Or love, darling, babes, treasure, sunshine.... the world is your pet name ouster OP

Hello Sugartits!

Buddy
Pal
Cock
Sausage
Angel
Diamond
???????

I used to say Morning Sunshine in the early days and then just Hey you in response to him using a term of endearment. Now we are firmly established; My love and Darling territory, i am afraid 😄

Incidentally, DH starts all emails (there are no texts) to me with 'print this train ticket / bus ticket out for me please.'

That's it.

Was just coming to add what @ArsenicNLace said. I was told exactly this by a male friend of mine, who uses "babe" and "sweetheart" as a catch all for not calling one of his multiple tinder connections by the wrong name.

DH started calling me "lovely". I told him I was not in primary school and he is not my teacher. Sweetheart/darling are safe to use

Would you call him a pet name in person? If so use that, if not, probably don't do it in texts either.

Not Chuckybum. Unless you've been together a while.

You can reflect Lovely back at him: it isn't t so personal that no one else can use it.

I'm careful to use only unisex terms of endearment. My favourite is lovely.

Curiously, I use these only for friends and colleagues.

For DH, I use terms not known or even recognised outside the two of us

In a new relationship, I'd take it as a good early sign but would want it to evolve into something g more personal quite early on.

Last time I had any kind of romantic connection .. I called him Fartyarse
He called me snorey magrory
Can't think why it didn't last

Lovely what?

Don’t date someone who addresses his messages to an adjective.

@Ted27

whats the regional term

in the midlands Bab is used widely

I don’t know which bit you’re in, but it really isn’t.

The replies on this thread are hilarious! I knew half a dozen would be the ‘block and delete’ brigade.

I like a darling, my love, handsome etc :)

@sonjadog

Buggerlugs.

We use it as a term of affection, but I can see that it might not be widely transferable.

We do too, haven't heard it out if our family for a long time though! We only use it for kids or st least those younger than ourselves. We wouldn't use it for a partner.

@Hen2018

Brum