affair / amour
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affair
A love relationship or affair, often with a sense of secrecy, passion, or unconventionality. The word is borrowed from French and often sounds literary or elevated.
Der historische Roman handelt von der heimlichen Amour zwischen der Königin und ihrem Leibwächter.
The historical novel is about the secret affair between the queen and her bodyguard.
amour fou
A fixed expression from French that describes an obsessive, all-consuming, and often destructive love. It refers to a passion that overrides reason and social norms.
Ihre Beziehung war eine klassische Amour fou, die beide an den Rand des Wahnsinns trieb.
Their relationship was a classic amour fou that drove them both to the brink of madness.
'Amour' (affair, amour) is a loanword from French. Its use signals an elevated, literary, or sometimes slightly ironic style.
Der alte Graf erzählte gern von den Amouren seiner Jugendzeit in Paris.
The old count liked to talk about the affairs of his youth in Paris.
In the meaning of 'Liebschaft' (affair), the word is often combined with adjectives such as 'heimlich' (secret), 'stürmisch' (passionate/turbulent), or 'unglücklich' (unhappy).
Der Roman beschreibt eine unglückliche Amour mit tragischem Ende.
The novel describes an unhappy affair with a tragic ending.
The combination 'Amour fou' (amour fou) is a fixed expression. It is used as a single unit to describe an obsessive and often self-destructive love.
Die Beziehung der beiden Künstler war eine klassische Amour fou.
The relationship between the two artists was a classic amour fou.
relationship / ratio
Both words can refer to a secret romantic relationship. Verhältnis usually sounds matter-of-fact and is used especially in the context of infidelity, whereas Amour can also sound passionate, unusual, or literary. Use Verhältnis in an objective description and Amour when this particular stylistic effect is intended.
Sie nannte ihre heimliche und leidenschaftliche Beziehung zu dem Kollegen eine Amour.
She called her secret and passionate relationship with her colleague an affair.
Sie nannte ihre heimliche Beziehung zu dem Kollegen ein Verhältnis.
She called her secret relationship with her colleague an affair.
