tête-à-tête

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

noun

, plural tête-à-têtes, French 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

Example Sentences

Few expect him to jet off now for a tete a tete with Trump.

From Los Angeles Times

He says he did not know about his son’s tete a tete with the Russian lawyer, but surely he knew the Russians were lobbying to relax the sanctions, including the Magnitsky Act.

From The Guardian

Upon entering the parlor Mrs. Belmont found herself tete a tete with the young lady from Virginia.

From Project Gutenberg

Charles and I were in my coach; the captain and my companion in a chaise hired purposely for them, to leave us the conveniency of a tete a tete.

From Project Gutenberg

The pair dined en tete a tete, discussing general matters till the servants left them to their wine.

From Project Gutenberg