HOW TO PRONOUNCE
coup
/ku/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:57
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The final “p” is silent.
Use one syllable, starting with k and ending with the vowel in blue. Do not release a final p or turn the written ou into two separate vowel sounds.
1 syllable
TRY SAYING
“Securing that interview was a coup for the magazine.”
APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗What does coup mean?
noun
- A quick, brilliant, and highly successful act.
- A coup d'état.
- A takeover of one group by another.
More meanings (7)
noun
- A single roll of the wheel at roulette, or a deal in rouge et noir.
- One of various named strategies employed by the declarer to win more tricks, such as the Bath coup.
- (historical) Of Native Americans, a blow against an enemy delivered in a way that demonstrates bravery.
verb
- To execute a coup.
- (informal) To subject (a nation) to a coup d'état.
- To empty out, overturn, or tilt, such as from a cart or wheelbarrow.
- To exchange, barter.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ku/
Pronunciation used in the listening tip.
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
The sun was such as in any other climate would strike you down, but here coup de soleil is unknown.
But for the airman's vigilance and smartness there is no doubt that the British squadron would have accomplished a great coup.
More book examples (3)
The defenceless condition of that city was known to the British General, whose object was to take it by 'coup de main'.
He had never fought the whites up to this time, and indeed no “coup” was counted for killing or scalping a white man.
At the time when all was matured for action, our readers may, perhaps, like to look behind the scenes, and see the final coup d’état.