caqueteuse: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Rare / Obsolete / ArchaicArchaic, Literary, Historical, Formal (when used), Pejorative
Quick answer
What does “caqueteuse” mean?
A gossipy, chattering, or excessively talkative woman.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A gossipy, chattering, or excessively talkative woman.
A woman who is a gossip or a chatterbox, often with connotations of idle or frivolous talk. The term is historical, feminine, and generally pejorative.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is a direct borrowing from French. Given its rarity, it might be marginally more likely to appear in British texts due to historical connections and literary tradition, but the difference is negligible. Both varieties would consider it archaic.
Connotations
Carries a distinctly old-fashioned, even 18th-19th century, feel. The pejorative aspect is mild by modern standards but clearly present (implying silliness, frivolity, lack of substance).
Frequency
Extremely low in both. It is not found in modern active vocabulary and would be unknown to the vast majority of native speakers.
Grammar
How to Use “caqueteuse” in a Sentence
to be dismissed as a [caqueteuse]to be known as the [caqueteuse] of [place]the [caqueteuse] spread the rumour that...Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical/literary studies discussing character types or translating French literature.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “caqueteuse”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “caqueteuse”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “caqueteuse”
- Using it in modern conversation.
- Using it to refer to a man.
- Pronouncing it with a hard 'q' /kw/ sound (it's /k/).
- Spelling: 'caquettuese', 'caquteuse'.
- Confusing it with 'coquette'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and considered archaic. Most native English speakers will not know this word.
No. It is a specifically feminine term, derived from French feminine suffix '-euse'. The hypothetical masculine form would be 'caqueteur', but that is even rarer.
There is no direct, single-word equivalent with the same archaic flavour. The closest modern terms are 'gossip' (as a noun for a person), 'chatterbox', or 'busybody', but these lack the specific historical and gendered nuance.
You would primarily encounter it when reading older English literature, 19th-century novels, or translations from French. It is a word for passive recognition, not for active use in modern English.
A gossipy, chattering, or excessively talkative woman.
Caqueteuse is usually archaic, literary, historical, formal (when used), pejorative in register.
Caqueteuse: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkækəˈtɜːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkækəˈtuːs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CAT' + 'QUET' (like 'quette' in coquette, another French-derived word for a flirtatious woman) + 'EUSE' (French feminine suffix). A 'catty' woman who 'quets' (chatters) is a 'caqueteuse'.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOSSIP IS A DISEASE / GOSSIP IS POLLUTION (The caqueteuse is a source of contamination). WOMAN IS A NOISY BIRD (chattering like a parrot or magpie).
Practice
Quiz
In what context would the word 'caqueteuse' be most appropriately used today?