coup de foudre: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C1/C2 vocabulary; literary/formal register)Formal, literary, sometimes journalistic
Quick answer
What does “coup de foudre” mean?
A sudden, overwhelming love at first sight.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sudden, overwhelming love at first sight; literally 'a bolt of lightning'.
Can also describe any sudden, shocking, or revelatory event that strikes with immediate, forceful impact.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common and assimilated in British English. In American English, it is almost exclusively a high-register literary term.
Connotations
In both varieties, connotes drama, fate, and intensity. May sound pretentious if used in casual conversation.
Frequency
Very low frequency in spoken language; found in novels, essays, and sophisticated journalism.
Grammar
How to Use “coup de foudre” in a Sentence
SUBJ experience/feel/have a coup de foudre (for OBJ)It be a coup de foudre (between SUBJ and SUBJ)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coup de foudre” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- Their meeting was a genuine coup de foudre, or so she told all her friends.
- The novelist specialised in tales of coup de foudre leading to lifelong devotion.
American English
- He described their connection as a coup de foudre, a concept his friends found rather foreign.
- The article explored whether coup de foudre is a myth or a neurological reality.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, may appear in literary criticism or psychology texts discussing love tropes.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would mark the speaker as highly educated or affectatious.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coup de foudre”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coup de foudre”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coup de foudre”
- Adding an 's' to make it plural (*coups de foudres).
- Using it to mean a mere 'surprise'.
- Mispronouncing 'foudre' as /ˈfaʊdə/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a high-register, literary term. Using it in casual conversation would sound very formal or pretentious.
Yes, though this is rarer. It can describe any sudden, striking, and transformative revelation or event (e.g., an intellectual epiphany).
It is typically not pluralised. If necessary, the phrase remains unchanged: 'several coup de foudre.' Adding an 's' to either word is incorrect in English usage.
'Coup de foudre' implies a more violent, overwhelming, and fateful force. 'Love at first sight' is the standard, more neutral phrase.
A sudden, overwhelming love at first sight.
Coup de foudre is usually formal, literary, sometimes journalistic in register.
Coup de foudre: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkuː də ˈfuːdrə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌku də ˈfudrə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'COUP' as a sudden strike (like a coup d'état) and 'FOUDRE' sounding like 'thunder' – a sudden strike of thunder/lightning in your heart.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOVE IS A NATURAL FORCE / A SUDDEN IMPACT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'coup de foudre' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?