How to pronounce bagatelle
Say it like bag-uh-TEL. Bagatelle has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bagatelle. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- bag
- uh
- TEL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bagatelle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- bagGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of bagatelle
American and British speakers say bagatelle in essentially the same way: /ˌbæɡəˈtɛl/ in the US and /ˌbæɡəˈtɛl/ in the UK.
British respelling: bag-uh-TEL.
What does bagatelle mean?
- A trifle; an insubstantial thing.
- A short piece of literature or of instrumental music, typically light or playful in character.
- A game similar to billiards played on an oblong table with pockets or arches at one end only.
- To meander or move around, in a manner similar to the ball in the game of bagatelle.
- To bagatellize; to regard as a bagatelle.
Where does bagatelle come from?
Borrowed from French bagatelle, from Italian bagattella.
Words that rhyme with bagatelle
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bagatelle.
Questions about saying bagatelle
How do you pronounce bagatelle?
Say bag-uh-TEL. The American pronunciation is /ˌbæɡəˈtɛl/. In British English it is /ˌbæɡəˈtɛl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bagatelle?
Bagatelle has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TEL). Broken into parts: bag · uh · TEL.
Do Americans and Brits say bagatelle the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌbæɡəˈtɛl/ and the British form is /ˌbæɡəˈtɛl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.