A couple of: meaning, definitions and examples

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a couple of

[ ˈkʌpəl əv ]

^{Context #1}

relationship

Two people who are in a romantic or intimate relationship and who are considered to be a pair or unit.

Synonyms

duo, pair, partners

Examples of usage

They make a lovely couple.
I saw a couple holding hands in the park.

^{Context #2}

quantity

A small number of something, typically two.

Synonyms

few, handful, pair

Examples of usage

I only need a couple of minutes to finish this task.
She bought a couple of books at the store.

^{Context #3}

informal

An indefinite but small number.

Synonyms

few, several, some

Examples of usage

I'll be back in a couple of hours.
Just give me a couple to think about it.

Translations

Translations of the word "a couple of" in other languages:

🇵🇹 um casal de

🇮🇳 एक जोड़ा

🇩🇪 ein Paar

🇮🇩 sepasang

🇺🇦 пара

🇵🇱 para

🇯🇵 一対の

🇫🇷 un couple de

🇪🇸 un par de

🇹🇷 bir çift

🇰🇷 한 쌍의

🇸🇦 زوج من

🇨🇿 pár

🇸🇰 pár

🇨🇳 一对

🇸🇮 par

🇮🇸 par af

🇰🇿 жұп

🇬🇪 წყვილი

🇦🇿 bir cüt

🇲🇽 un par de

Word origin

The word 'couple' originated from the Old French word 'cople', meaning 'two'. It has been used in English since the 13th century to refer to a pair or a small number of things. Over time, it has evolved to represent both a romantic relationship and a small quantity. The versatility of the word 'couple' has made it a common and widely understood term in the English language.