Synonyms for "tête-à-tête"

Solution 1:

Aside from the entries found in the thesaurus, I might suggest:

• face-to-face

Even though face-to-face is often used as an adjective (as in face-to-face meeting, face-to-face interview, or face-to-face instruction), face-to-face can also be used as a noun, meaning, well, tête-à-tête. Wiktionary defines face-to-face as:

A meeting, especially a meeting between two people conducted in person as opposed to a meeting conducted at a distance through technology.

Moreover, Google books shows the expression used as a noun, in instances such as:

Baretta needs to have a face to face with Robert and see that he has moved on...

Adelman suggested that we have a face-to-face with Jones, which we did.

In an unprecedented move, Clifford went to Chicago to have a face-to-face with Tony's superiors.

One other suggestion I might offer – particularly if you want to stress the intimacy of the conversation – is

• pillow talk

OneLook lists this definition:

intimate conversation between lovers (typically occurring in bed)

Solution 2:

Confabulation, which can be shortened to the informal confab.

Solution 3:

You can always try huddle, unless the sports metaphor isn't appropriate.

Solution 4:

The normal English equivalent is heart-to-heart - an intimate talk in private; "he took me aside for a little heart-to-heart".

Unlike tete-a-tete, heart-to-heart is often followed by the word "talk".

I don't use it myself, but for an undeniably "single word" alternative, there's schmooze verb: to talk intimately and cozily; gossip. noun: a long and intimate conversation. Some may feel this word always implies ...in order to manipulate, flatter, or impress someone.