la bagatelle

Definition & meaning

Bagatelle is a feminine French noun (une bagatelle, plural des bagatelles). Its main meanings are:

• A trifle or a matter of little importance: something considered insignificant or easy to deal with. For example, ce n’est qu’une bagatelle means “it’s only a trifle.”
• A small or modest amount, often used ironically or humorously: une bagatelle de mille euros means “a mere thousand euros.”
• A short, light musical composition, especially a piano piece.
• A traditional table game in which players use a cue to send balls into holes.
• In the expression faire la bagatelle, a euphemism for having sex.

Grammar & Word origin

Bagatelle is a feminine noun: une bagatelle. Its plural is bagatelles.

The word came into French from Italian bagatella, meaning “trifle” or “small thing.” It is a borrowing as a whole rather than a word made from separate French parts.

Synonyms & antonyms

Depending on the sense, synonyms include:

• futilité ↗ — “triviality”; often suggests that something lacks real importance or purpose.
• broutille ↗ — an informal word for a very small matter or amount.
• chose insignifiante ↗ — “insignificant thing,” a straightforward description.
• pièce légère ↗ — “light piece,” for the musical sense.

There is no single direct antonym in every context. For the sense “trifle,” possible opposites include affaire importante ↗ (“important matter”) and chose sérieuse ↗ (“serious matter”).

Common phrases & collocations

• ce n’est qu’une bagatelle ↗ — “it’s only a trifle.”
• une bagatelle de… ↗ — “a mere…” or “the modest sum of…,” often humorous or ironic.
• faire la bagatelle ↗ — a euphemistic expression meaning “to have sex.”
• une bagatelle pour piano ↗ — a short, light piano composition.