tête-à-tête

American  

[teyt-uh-teyt, tet-uh-tet, te-ta-tet] / ˈteɪt əˈteɪt, ˈtɛt əˈtɛt, tɛ taˈtɛt /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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adverb

1. intimately; in private

tête-à-tête Cultural  

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

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Etymology

Origin of tête-à-tête

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

Explanation

A tete-a-tete might be a casual chat, but it's more likely to be a formal conversation or meeting between only two people. If your boss requests a tete-a-tete with you, she means that she wants to have a meeting, just the two of you. Maybe you'll get a raise at the tete-a-tete — or maybe you're in trouble. You could schedule a tete-a-tete with your college adviser or plan to sit down with your roommate and have a tete-a-tete about the dirty dishes in the sink. The leaders of warring countries might also try to settle disputes through a tete-a-tete. In French, tête-à-tête literally means "head to head."

Example Sentences

For a few hours on Sunday, the United States and Colombia engaged in a full-blown economic tête-à-tête.

From Slate • Jan. 28, 2025

The "Call Her Daddy" conversation was not the contentious tête-à-tête the chattering class has come to expect after decades of cable news bloviating somehow came to represent meaningful political coverage.

From Salon • Oct. 8, 2024

“Freud’s Last Session” comes from the stage and, like “The Two Popes,” centers on the tête-à-tête of intellectual opposites.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 17, 2024

The short concludes with a tête-à-tête back at the restaurant between Bad Bunny and Pacino, who praises the younger celebrity.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 13, 2023

I had prepared an occupation for him; for I was determined not to spend the whole time in a tête-à-tête conversation.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Related Words

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