Definition
A female professional storyteller or reciter who performs dramatic monologues and narratives for an audience, popular in 19th-century France.
Etymology
From French diseuse, feminine of diseur (one who speaks/recites), derived from Old French dire meaning 'to say' or 'to speak.' The term emerged in the 1800s to describe women who performed dramatic readings as entertainment.
Kelly Says
Diseuses were the Victorian influencers of France—famous performers like Eve Lavallière had audiences hanging on their every word before movies or recordings existed. They memorized enormous dramatic monologues and performed them with such artistic flair that people paid to watch them speak.
Translations
CACatalà
escriptora
es-cri-to-ra
CSČeština
spisovateľka
spi-so-va-tel-ka
DADansk
forfatterinde
for-fat-ter-in-de
DEDeutsch
Schriftstellerin
shrift-stel-le-rin
ELΕλληνικά
γυναίκα συγγραφέας
yi-na-i-ka-s-y-n-gra-feas
ESEspañol
mujer de letras
mu-her de let-ras
FAفارسی
نویسنده زن
na-vis-han-de zen
FISuomi
kirjailija
kir-ja-i-li-a
FRFrançais
femme de lettres
femme de let-tres
HIहिन्दी
लेखिका
le-khi-ka
IDBahasa Indonesia
penulis wanita
pe-nu-lis wa-ni-ta
IGIG
nwanyi ede
n-wa-nyi e-de
ITItaliano
scrittrice
skri-t-t-ri-ce
KMKM
ស្ត្រីក្សត្រី
s-trai-k-sat-rei
KO한국어
글쓰는 여성
geul-sseu-neun yeo-seong
MSBahasa Melayu
penulis wanita
pe-nu-lis wa-ni-ta
MYမြန်မာ
लेखिका
le-khi-ka
NLNederlands
schrijfster
shrift-ster
NONorsk
forfatterinne
for-fat-ter-in-ne
PLPolski
pisarka
pi-sar-ka
PTPortuguês
escritora
es-cri-to-ra
RORomână
scriitoare
skri-i-to-re
RUРусский
писательница
pi-sa-tel-ni-tsa
SVSvenska
författare
for-fa-ta-re
SWKiswahili
mwandishi wa kike
mwan-d-shi wa ki-ke
TAதமிழ்
ஆசிரியை
a-asi-ri-ai
TEతెలుగు
రచయిత్రి
ra-cha-yi-tri
THไทย
นักเขียนหญิง
nak-khian-yin
TLTL
manunulat na babae
ma-nu-nu-lat na ba-ba-e
TRTürkçe
yazar kadın
ya-zar ka-din
UKУкраїнська
письменниця
pis-men-ni-t-sa
VITiếng Việt
nữ nhà văn
nu-nha-van
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
French feminine form for a female speaker/reciter. Emerged as marked feminine form alongside masculine 'diseur'; gendered grammar reflects and reinforces women's later entry into public oratory and performance.
Inclusive Usage
Use freely to specify female speakers or performers; also acceptable in gender-mixed contexts if paired explicitly with masculine forms.
Inclusive Alternatives
["speaker","performer","orator"]
Empowerment Note
Diseuses were professional performers and artists; reclaiming this term honors women's contributions to French theater, poetry recitation, and public intellectual life.