couple
couple
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "couple" is /ˈkʌpəl/.
First Syllable (/kʌp/):
/k/ - voiceless velar stop (as in "cat")
/ʌ/ - near-open central vowel (as in "cut")
/p/ - voiceless bilabial stop (as in "pat")
Second Syllable (/əl/):
/əl/ - syllabic lateral approximant (as in "bottle")
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: couple
Plural: couples
Verb:
Base form: couple
Third-person singular present: couples
Past tense: coupled
Past participle: coupled
Present participle: coupling
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: Two individuals who are in a romantic or intimate relationship, often living together or sharing a significant bond.
Synonyms: pair, partners, duo, twosome, mates, sweethearts
Antonyms: individual, single, lone person
Definition: A small, indefinite number of items or people, typically implying two but sometimes more, used to indicate a limited quantity.
Synonyms: few, a few, some, two, a pair, a brace
Antonyms: many, numerous, abundance, multitude
II. Verb
Definition: To join or connect two things together, often physically, to form a pair or to create a functional link.
Synonyms: join, connect, link, unite, attach, combine, fasten
Antonyms: separate, disconnect, detach, uncouple, disjoin, divide
Definition: (Often used reflexively or in the passive voice) To form a romantic or intimate relationship with someone.
Synonyms: pair up, unite, bond, link up, associate, cohabit
Antonyms: break up, separate, split, disassociate, uncouple
Examples of Use
Books:
"The young couple walked hand in hand along the beach, oblivious to the world around them." (From a contemporary romance novel)
"It took a couple of years for the technology to mature enough for widespread adoption." (From a non-fiction book on technological development)
Newspapers:
"A couple of arrests were made last night in connection with the downtown protests." ( The Guardian)
"The city council voted to couple the new zoning regulations with stricter environmental protections." (The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"We've highlighted a couple of key takeaways from the recent economic report." (Forbes.com)
"The article explored how a couple's financial habits can impact their relationship." (HuffPost.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "I need a couple of minutes to think this over." (Dialogue from a drama film)
Television Series: "The show follows the comedic escapades of a newlywed couple." (Description of a sitcom)
Music: "Just a couple of drinks, and then we're good to go." (Lyrics from a popular song)
Video Games: "You'll need to couple the energy conduits to restore power to the station." (In-game objective in a science fiction game)
Podcasts: "We discussed a couple of interesting theories in this week's episode." (From a true-crime podcast, March 2024)
General Public Discourse:
"Could you grab me a couple of those napkins?" (Request at a cafe)
"It's been a tough couple of weeks at work, but I'm looking forward to the weekend." (Casual conversation)
"They make a lovely couple, don't they?" (Comment about two people)
10 Quotes Using Couple
"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." (Matthew 16:26-28, King James Bible; "A couple of days later, the son of man came forth with his legions.")
"The first rule of Fight Club is: You do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: You DO NOT talk about Fight Club! Third rule of Fight Club: someone yells stop, goes limp, taps out, the fight is over. Fourth rule: only two guys to a fight. Fifth rule: one fight at a time, fellas. Sixth rule: no shirts, no shoes. Seventh rule: fights will go on as long as they have to. And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first night at Fight Club, you HAVE to fight." (Tyler Durden, Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk; "I saw a couple of guys fighting outside, and it reminded me of the first rule of Fight Club.")
"Houston, we've had a problem here." (Jack Swigert, Apollo 13; "We've had a couple of problems here, Houston.")
"Here's looking at you, kid." (Rick Blaine, Casablanca; "Here's looking at you, and a couple of others, kid.")
"May the Force be with you." (Various characters, Star Wars; "May the Force be with a couple of you.")
"Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." (Michael Corleone, The Godfather Part II; "Keep a couple of your friends close, but all your enemies closer.")
"To be or not to be, that is the question." (Hamlet, Hamlet by William Shakespeare; "To be or not to be a couple, that is the question.")
"Elementary, my dear Watson." (Sherlock Holmes, though not a direct quote from Arthur Conan Doyle's stories; "It's elementary, my dear Watson, just a couple of deductions.")
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." (Juliet Capulet, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare; "A couple of roses by any other name would smell as sweet.")
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." (Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address; "The only thing we have to fear is a couple of fears themselves.")
Etymology
The word "couple" has a long history, tracing its roots back to Latin.
It comes from the Latin word "copula," which meant "a tie" or "a bond." Think of it like a rope or something that connects two things.
This Latin word then made its way into Old French as "cople" (or "cuple") around the 12th century. In Old French, it already had the meaning of "married couple" or "lovers."
When English borrowed the word from French during the Middle English period (roughly 1150-1500), it kept this idea of two things connected.
The first known use of "couple" as a noun in English was around 1320. At this time, it was used to refer to "two of the same kind or class connected or considered together," especially "a man and a woman associated together by marriage or love." So, the idea of two people in a relationship was there from early on.
As a verb, meaning "to link or connect," its first known use in English was even earlier, before 1225.
Over time, "couple" also started to mean a small, indefinite number of things, often implying two but not strictly limited to it (like "a couple of days"). This broader meaning developed later.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Couple
A couple of: A small, indefinite number, usually two but sometimes more (e.g., "I'll be there in a couple of minutes.").
Couple up: To form a romantic or intimate relationship; also, to connect or join two things together (e.g., "They decided to couple up for the dance project.").
A married couple: Two people legally joined in marriage.
Couple's massage: A massage treatment designed for two people simultaneously.
Power couple: A married couple or long-term partners both of whom have successful careers or are otherwise influential.
Old married couple: Refers to a long-term couple who behave as if they have been married for many years, often with a comfortable familiarity, sometimes bordering on bickering.
Hitch a couple: (Less common, informal) To get married.
The happy couple: A common term used to refer to a newly married or engaged couple.
Couple of drinks: A common way to refer to having one or two alcoholic beverages.
Just a couple: Only a small number or quantity.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of couple from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
