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Bagatelle

Form
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A brief, whimsical, and often lyrical poem treating a trivial or charming subject with lightness, elegance, and playful tone.

Detailed Definition
A Bagatelle in poetry refers to a short, light, often whimsical composition that treats its subject with playful brevity and minimal pretension; derived from the French for “trifle,” the poetic bagatelle avoids grand themes or complex structures, favoring wit, charm, or casual observation—examples include epigrams, light verse, or miniature lyrics that delight in linguistic dexterity without aspiring to profundity, serving as elegant diversions rather than weighty statements.
Example
Example in poetry:
Bagatelle in Dorothy Parker’s quip: "Men seldom make passes / At girls who wear glasses"; Modern Twitter poetry: "Love is a typo we keep retyping"; 18th-century bagatelles were light salon verses on trivial themes; Contemporary bagatelles by David Lehman blend wit and brevity; The form delights in ephemeral observation
Additional Notes
Light, brief poem or musical composition. French term suggesting playfulness or insignificance. Typically short, witty, unpretentious. Related to trifle, jeu d'esprit. Useful for capturing fleeting impressions or light subjects.
Other Meanings of “Bagatelle”
Also Known As
trifle sketch
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