Usage Note
Bêtement derives from bête (stupid, animal) and describes acting in a thoughtless or naive way — il a bêtement oublié means he stupidly forgot. The phrase tout bêtement is very common and means 'quite simply' or 'plain and simple', often used to deflate a complicated situation.
Examples
"Il a tout bêtement perdu ses clés."
Natural Translation
He plain and simply lost his keys.
Literal Translation
He quite simply lost his keys.
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