couple
KUHP-uhl
Couple (noun) means Two people who are in a romantic relationship or married. Example: “The couple next door just got engaged.”
noun
1
Two people who are in a romantic relationship or married.
"The couple next door just got engaged."
"They've been a happy couple for over a decade."
"The young couple held hands as they walked through the park."
2
A small, unspecified number of things or people — roughly two or a few.
"I only need a couple of minutes to finish this."
"There are a couple of typos on this page."
"I'll be back in a couple of days."
verb
1
To join or connect two things together.
"The engineers coupled the two rail cars together."
"This app couples your calendar with your task list."
"You need to couple the trailer to the car before you set off."
How to use couple
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTwo of something (especially a romantic pair), or loosely, "a few" of something; as a verb, to link two things together.
Common mistake
"A couple of" technically means around two, but in casual speech people often stretch it to mean "a few" — this is normal and widely accepted.
Common pairings
a couple of
a young couple
couple up
married couple
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Word forms
- Plural
- couples
- Third person singular
- couples
- Past tense
- coupled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ next door just got engaged.
Etymology
From Old French couple, from Latin copula meaning "a bond" or "tie" — the same root that gives us "copula" and "coupling."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for couple
See all rhymes for couple →Frequently asked questions
What does “couple” mean?
The word “couple” means two people who are in a romantic relationship or married. In plain terms, two of something (especially a romantic pair), or loosely, "a few" of something; as a verb, to link two things together.
How do you pronounce “couple”?
“Couple” is pronounced KUHP-uhl (/ˈkʌp.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “couple” in a sentence?
Here is “couple” used in a sentence: “The couple next door just got engaged.”
What is another word for “couple”?
Words with a similar meaning to “couple” include pair, attach, put together, espouse and make love.
What part of speech is “couple”?
Depending on how it is used, “couple” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “couple” come from?
The word “couple” comes from Latin. From Old French couple, from Latin copula meaning "a bond" or "tie" — the same root that gives us "copula" and "coupling.".
Is “couple” a common word?
“Couple” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “couple” have?
“Couple” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: two people who are in a romantic relationship or married.
Does "a couple" always mean exactly two?
When referring to people in a relationship, yes — a couple is two partners. But in casual speech, "a couple of" often means a small, loose number rather than precisely two, as in "give me a couple of minutes." Context decides whether it means exactly two or just a few.
What is the difference between a couple and a pair?
A pair is any two matching or connected things, like a pair of shoes. A couple usually means two people in a romantic relationship, or informally two of anything. The key difference is that "couple" carries a sense of partnership, while "pair" simply notes that two things go together.
What is an example of a couple?
A married husband and wife are a couple, as are two people dating or engaged. You might say "the couple celebrated their anniversary" or "they make a lovely couple." The word highlights the romantic bond or partnership between the two people rather than just their number.
Is "couple" singular or plural?
It can be either. When you think of the two people as a single unit, use a singular verb: "the couple is moving house." When you focus on them as two individuals, a plural verb feels natural: "the couple are arguing." British English tends to favor the plural.
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