sous-sous: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowLiterary, Archaic, or Jocular
Quick answer
What does “sous-sous” mean?
A French term meaning 'under-under', used in English to refer to a very small amount of money, petty cash, or a state of extreme financial scarcity.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A French term meaning 'under-under', used in English to refer to a very small amount of money, petty cash, or a state of extreme financial scarcity.
Can describe a state of being penniless or having only trivial sums. In ballet, it refers to a position where the feet are tightly together, one in front of the other, but this is a distinct, homographic term.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both dialects. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British English due to historical literary use and proximity to French.
Connotations
Conveys a quaint, old-fashioned, or deliberately colourful way of describing poverty or small change.
Frequency
Extremely uncommon in modern usage. Found primarily in 19th and early 20th-century literature or in stylized contemporary writing aiming for a specific tone.
Grammar
How to Use “sous-sous” in a Sentence
to be [prepositional phrase] sous-sousto have not a sous-sousto count one's sous-sousVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sous-sous” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- After paying the rent, he was left with barely a few sous-sous for the week's food.
- The novel's protagonist starts life without a sous-sous to his name.
American English
- She scrounged every last sous-sous from the couch cushions to buy coffee.
- Their grand venture left them down to their last sous-sous.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in formal business contexts.
Academic
May appear in historical or literary analysis discussing depictions of poverty.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual speech. Would be considered an affectation.
Technical
No technical usage.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sous-sous”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sous-sous”
- Using it to mean 'secret' or 'underhanded' (confusion with 'sous' in 'sous-chef' meaning 'under').
- Pronouncing it /saʊs saʊs/ like 'souse'.
- Using it in a non-financial context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very rare and stylised borrowing from French. It is not part of core English vocabulary.
It is not recommended for formal contexts like academic papers or business reports, as it is archaic and literary.
'Sous-sous' is much more specific and evocative, implying a state of near-total poverty or counting the tiniest amounts. 'Small change' is neutral and common.
It is a direct reduplication of the French word 'sou', an old coin of little value. In French, 'sous' also colloquially means 'money'.
A French term meaning 'under-under', used in English to refer to a very small amount of money, petty cash, or a state of extreme financial scarcity.
Sous-sous: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsuː suː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsuː suː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not a brass farthing/sous-sous to rub together.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a French beggar saying, "S'il vous plaît, un sou?" (Please, a penny?). 'Sous-sous' doubles the plea, emphasizing extreme need.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A LIQUID (in tiny, evaporating drops). POVERTY IS A CONTAINER (being 'down to' the last drop).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'sous-sous' be most appropriately used?