Devinette

Devinette is a short riddle or puzzle, typically presented in prose or verse, whose clues are designed to lead the reader to guess the solution. In French-speaking contexts, devinettes are a common form of playful language used in education, children's literature, and everyday entertainment. The primary purpose is to challenge reasoning and vocabulary through suggestive and sometimes misleading clues.

Origin and terminology: The word derives from the verb deviner, to guess, with the diminutive suffix -ette. The form has deep roots in oral tradition and has evolved into a staple of classroom activities and light literary games.

Form and techniques: A devinette usually provides a compact description or series of clues about the answer, relying on imagery, metaphor, or wordplay. Clues can be literal, figurative, or pun-based, and may include misdirection to encourage careful reading. Devinettes are typically brief and tend to have a single, straightforward solution.

Variants and related genres: Related French puzzle forms include enigme (a more formal or enigmatic puzzle), charade (clues built from the syllables or parts of a word), and casse-tête (a general term for brain-teasers). Devinettes are especially common in materials aimed at children, where they serve to develop language skills and deductive thinking, though they are enjoyed by readers of all ages.

Cultural role: Devinettes appear in school textbooks, magazines, family games, and online puzzle collections. They function both as educational exercises and social entertainment, offering quick mental engagement and opportunities for wordplay.

Example: I have teeth but I do not bite. What am I? Answer: a comb.

See also: enigme, charade.