tête-à-tête

[teyt-uh-teyt, tet-uh-tet, te-ta-tet]

noun

plural

tête-à-têtes ,

plural

tête-à-tête .

1. a private conversation or interview, usually between two people.

2. Also called vis-à-vis. a sofa shaped like an S so two people are able to converse face to face.

adjective

1. of, between, or for two persons together without others.

adverb

1. (of two persons) together in private.

   to sit tête-à-tête.

tête-à-tête

/ ˌteɪtəˈteɪt /

noun

1. 1. a private conversation between two people

   2. ( as modifier )

      a tête-à-tête conversation

2. a small sofa for two people, esp one that is S-shaped in plan so that the sitters are almost face to face

adverb

1. intimately; in private

tête-à-tête

1. An intimate meeting or conversation between two individuals. From French, meaning “head to head.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of tête-à-tête¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; from French: literally, “head to head”

Word History and Origins

Origin of tête-à-tête¹

C17: from French, literally: head to head