tracasserie: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal
Quick answer
What does “tracasserie” mean?
A petty quarrel or annoyance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A petty quarrel or annoyance.
A minor fuss or bothersome disturbance, often over trivial matters.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is similar in both variants, but slightly more common in British English due to historical French influence.
Connotations
Often carries a literary, formal, or slightly archaic connotation in both dialects.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both; primarily encountered in formal writing or literature.
Grammar
How to Use “tracasserie” in a Sentence
be involved in a tracasserieavoid tracasserie over somethingVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; if employed, it might refer to minor office disputes or trivial conflicts.
Academic
Occasionally found in literary criticism or historical texts discussing minor conflicts.
Everyday
Almost never used in casual conversation; considered esoteric.
Technical
Not applicable in technical contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tracasserie”
- Mispronouncing as /trəˈkæsəri/ or misspelling as 'tracassery'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare loanword from French, used primarily in formal or literary contexts.
In American English, it is pronounced /ˌtrækəˈsɛri/, and in British English, /trækəˈsɛəri/.
No, 'tracasserie' is a noun. The related verb in French is 'tracasser', but it is not commonly used in English.
It comes from French, derived from 'tracasser' meaning to worry or bother, entering English in the 18th century.
A petty quarrel or annoyance.
Tracasserie is usually formal in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'track' and 'assery' – like tracking down small, annoying issues.
Conceptual Metaphor
Tracasserie as a small storm in a teacup, symbolizing minor disturbances that are overblown.
Practice
Quiz
What is the best synonym for 'tracasserie'?