Coup de foudre

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Electrifying French Expression

Meaning	bolt of lightning, love at first sight
Literally	bolt of lightning
Register	normal
Pronunciation		[coo d(eu) foo dr(eu)]
IPA		[ku də fudʁe]

Usage notes: The French expression le coup de foudre has a literal and a figurative meaning, though the latter is more common – especially among English speakers.

Literally, un coup de foudre is a “bolt of lightning” or “thunderbolt.”

J’ai vu un coup de foudre tout à l’heure.		I saw a bolt of lightning a moment ago.
Attention, il peut y avoir des coups de foudre.		Be careful, there might be lightning.

Figuratively, un coup de foudre indicates “love at first sight,” which I think makes perfect sense, as that is quite an electrifying feeling. You can choose between être and avoir to express slightly different nuances.

Être le coup de foudre – To be love at first sight

J’ai aperçu mon collègue, et ça a été le coup de foudre.		I got a glimpse of my colleague, and it was love at first sight.
Arriver dans un nouveau pays est toujours un coup de foudre.		Arriving in a new country is always love at first sight.

Avoir le coup de foudre – To fall in love at first sight

J’ai eu le coup de foudre pour mon collègue.		I fell in love with my colleague at first sight.
En arrivant dans un nouveau pays, j’ai toujours le coup de foudre.		When I arrive in a new country, it’s always love at first sight.

Somewhat synonymous

1. To fall in love (with)

• tomber amoureux (de) – to fall in love (with)
• avoir un coup de cœur (pour)
• (informal) flasher (sur)
• (literary) s’éprendre (de)

2. To become infatuated (with)

• s’amouracher (de)
• (informal) se toquer (de)
• (formal) s’enticher (de)
  

 Related lessons

• Avoir conjugations
• Être conjugations
• Tomber conjugations
• Love language
• Weather

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