French word

devinette

Pronunciation

IPA/dəvinɛt/

Meaning

  • feminine nounriddle

Example

Tu connais une devinette ?

Do you know a riddle?

Illustration for devinette (riddle)

More examples

Les enfants aiment les devinettes.

Children like riddles.

Core concept

A short question that hides its answer behind a clue and invites playful reasoning.

Common phrases

  • poser une devinette

    ask a riddle

  • résoudre une devinette

    solve a riddle

  • une devinette facile

    an easy riddle

Similar words

énigme: A puzzling question whose answer requires careful thought.
charade: A word game solved by using clues about parts of the answer.

Definition in French

Question courte et amusante dont il faut trouver la réponse en réfléchissant.

Word origin

Devinette is formed from the verb deviner, 'to guess', with the diminutive suffix -ette, from Latin divinare.

Usage tips

  • Devinette is feminine, so the usual phrase is une devinette, as in Tu connais une devinette ?

Word lists with this word