garsoniér

Garsoniér, also spelled garsoniér or garçonnière, is a term used to describe a bachelor apartment—the living space of a single man. In standard French, the common term is garçonnière, a small, self-contained unit that is typically one room or a compact studio, sometimes with a kitchenette and a separate bathroom. The garsoniér form appears as a regional or variant spelling in some contexts.

Etymology and usage-wise, garçonnière comes from garçon (boy, man) and the suffix -nière, conveying a place associated with the described person. The garsoniér spelling is less common and is often encountered in historical texts, dialectal writing, or anglicized renderings of the French concept.

Historically, garçonnières were urban dwellings rented by single men, particularly in European cities during the 19th and early 20th centuries. They served as compact, affordable housing for young professionals, students, or workers who did not share apartments with roommates or families. Typical features include one main living area, possibly a separate kitchenette, and a modest bathroom, with shared or nearby facilities in some buildings.

In modern usage, the concept endures in a broader housing category in many languages as “bachelor apartment” or “studio,” though the specific term garçonnière is more common in literature and historical references than in everyday speech. The idea highlights urban housing patterns, affordability, and changing social norms surrounding single living arrangements.