causerie: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/ArchaicFormal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “causerie” mean?
an informal conversation or chat.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
an informal conversation or chat; a light, literary essay.
A short, informal piece of writing on a light, often social topic, characteristic of journalistic or periodical style. Can refer to the genre of such writing or the social act of a relaxed, witty conversation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both varieties. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical or literary texts discussing French culture.
Connotations
Literary, old-fashioned, French, salon-like.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both regions. Most speakers will not know the word.
Grammar
How to Use “causerie” in a Sentence
engage in a causerie about [topic]a causerie on [subject]wrote a weekly causeriethe art of causerieVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “causerie” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- No verb form in use.
American English
- No verb form in use.
adverb
British English
- No adverb form in use.
American English
- No adverb form in use.
adjective
British English
- No adjective form in use.
American English
- No adjective form in use.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical or literary studies to describe a genre of 18th-19th century French/European writing.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “causerie”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “causerie”
- Using it to mean any casual talk (too broad).
- Pronouncing it as /kɔːzəri/ (incorrect).
- Using it in contemporary, non-literary contexts.
- Spelling: 'causary', 'causory'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare and primarily used in literary or historical contexts. Most native speakers will not be familiar with it.
Yes, traditionally it can mean an informal, witty conversation or a short, light essay of a similar style.
It is a mid-19th century loanword from French, derived from 'causer' meaning 'to chat'.
Almost certainly not. It would sound archaic and pretentious. Use 'chat', 'conversation', or 'informal essay' instead.
an informal conversation or chat.
Causerie is usually formal, literary in register.
Causerie: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkəʊzəri/, and in American English it is pronounced /koʊzəˈriː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms feature this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CAUSE' in French is 'chose' (thing) + 'RIE' sounds like 'wry' (clever/dry humour). A causerie is a clever, witty 'thing' (talk or essay).
Conceptual Metaphor
CONVERSATION IS A LIGHT MEAL (a tasting menu of ideas rather than a full course).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'causerie' most accurately used?