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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.”
Par exemple…
| 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
Par exemple…
| 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
Par exemple…
| 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
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