gaucherie: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “gaucherie” mean?
A socially awkward or tactless act.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A socially awkward or tactless act; an instance of clumsiness in social situations.
More broadly, a lack of social grace, elegance, or polish; behaviour that is unsophisticated or shows poor judgement of social norms. It can refer to both a specific act and the general quality of awkwardness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is understood and used similarly in both varieties, with the main difference being in pronunciation. It is a French loanword and retains its foreign feel.
Connotations
In both varieties, it implies a judgement from a perspective of assumed social sophistication. It can sound slightly pretentious or deliberately old-fashioned.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both, slightly more likely to be encountered in formal British writing (e.g., literary criticism, society columns) than in American, but the difference is marginal.
Grammar
How to Use “gaucherie” in a Sentence
commit/commit a gaucheriedisplay/show gaucheriebe guilty of gaucherieforgive/overlook a gaucheriegaucherie of [noun phrase] (e.g., gaucherie of the remark)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gaucherie” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The candidate's gaucherie remarks cost him the support of the committee.
- His gaucherie attempt at humour fell completely flat at the banquet.
American English
- Her gaucherie comment about the host's décor created an awkward silence.
- The diplomat's gaucherie handling of the protocol was noted by everyone.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically in management literature to describe a company's clumsy PR or cultural misstep abroad.
Academic
Used in literary studies, sociology, or cultural criticism to analyse characters' behaviour or social class distinctions.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation. Its use would mark the speaker as highly educated or pretentious.
Technical
Not used in technical fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gaucherie”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gaucherie”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gaucherie”
- Pronouncing the 'ch' as in 'church' (it's /ʃ/ as in 'shoe').
- Using it to describe physical clumsiness alone (e.g., 'He spilled his drink due to gaucherie' is incorrect unless it highlights a social context).
- Spelling as 'gaucherey' or 'gaucheri'.
- Assuming it's a common word suitable for everyday use.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, directly. 'Gauche' (meaning socially awkward or tactless) is the French-derived adjective. 'Gaucherie' is the noun form describing the quality or an instance of being gauche.
Almost never in its standard meaning. It is inherently a criticism of a lack of social grace. However, it might be used affectionately or nostalgically (e.g., 'remembering the gaucheries of our youth').
They are very close synonyms. 'Faux pas' (French for 'false step') is more common and can be slightly broader. 'Gaucherie' often emphasises the inherent clumsiness or awkwardness of the person committing the act, not just the act itself.
In British English: GOH-shuh-ree. In American English: GOH-shuh-REE (with a stronger stress on the final syllable). The 'ch' is pronounced like the 'sh' in 'shoe'.
A socially awkward or tactless act.
Gaucherie is usually formal, literary in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No specific idioms. The word itself functions as a descriptive term for the concept.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a GAUCHO (South American cowboy) trying to navigate a fancy French salon. His rough, direct manner would be a perfect example of GAUCHERIE.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL GRACE IS PHYSICAL GRACE / SOCIAL INEPTITUDE IS PHYSICAL CLUMSINESS (e.g., 'social misstep', 'treading on someone's toes').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the use of 'gaucherie' be MOST appropriate?