French Expression of the Day: Coup de coeur
The Local France - [email protected]
Published: 21 Nov, 2018 CET.
Updated: Wed 21 Nov 2018 12:21 CET
The perfect French expression to talk about the things you love.
Why do I need to know coup de coeur?
This commonly used expression might become your new favourite way to talk about things you love.
So, what does coup de coeur mean?
The noun un coup translates as ‘a blow’ or ‘a hit’, but is used in many French expressions to imply a quick or sudden action.
Un coeur means ‘a heart’ so, putting the two halves of the expression together, un coup de coeur literally means ‘a blow to the heart.’
Although this might sound like cause for medical concern, this phrase is actually used to describe having a sudden strong attraction to something, ‘falling for something’ or even ‘love at first sight.’
This could include books, films, places, properties, food, restaurants… even people that you have a sudden passion for.
Un coup de coeur is often used with the verb avoir, for example Elle a vraiment eu un coup de coeur pour la robe. (She really fell in love with the dress.)
Or Ouf, j’ai eu un coup de coeur pour cette appartement. (‘Wow, I really fell for that apartment.’)
But it can also be used as a stand-alone noun phrase, such as Coup de coeur assuré pour cette appartement de 4 pièces! (Love at first sight guaranteed for this 4-room apartment!)
In print it often takes on a meaning closer to ‘favourites’ or ‘crushes’, as in the headline below which says ‘Are you looking for the perfect podcast? Give us your criteria and we’ll tell you our favourites’.
This website has a recording of someone saying coup de coeur so you can nail the French pronunciation.
How can I use coup de coeur?
C'est l'histoire d'un coup de coeur, celle d'un homme avec une region authentique et sauvage.
It is a story of love at first sight, that of a man with a wild, authentic region.
Vous éprouvez un coup de coeur pour une maison ou pour un appartement?
Have you fallen in love with a house or flat?
(The above examples are from linguee.fr)
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Why do I need to know coup de coeur?
This commonly used expression might become your new favourite way to talk about things you love.
So, what does coup de coeur mean?
The noun un coup translates as ‘a blow’ or ‘a hit’, but is used in many French expressions to imply a quick or sudden action.
Un coeur means ‘a heart’ so, putting the two halves of the expression together, un coup de coeur literally means ‘a blow to the heart.’
Although this might sound like cause for medical concern, this phrase is actually used to describe having a sudden strong attraction to something, ‘falling for something’ or even ‘love at first sight.’
This could include books, films, places, properties, food, restaurants… even people that you have a sudden passion for.
Un coup de coeur is often used with the verb avoir, for example Elle a vraiment eu un coup de coeur pour la robe. (She really fell in love with the dress.)
Or Ouf, j’ai eu un coup de coeur pour cette appartement. (‘Wow, I really fell for that apartment.’)
But it can also be used as a stand-alone noun phrase, such as Coup de coeur assuré pour cette appartement de 4 pièces! (Love at first sight guaranteed for this 4-room apartment!)
In print it often takes on a meaning closer to ‘favourites’ or ‘crushes’, as in the headline below which says ‘Are you looking for the perfect podcast? Give us your criteria and we’ll tell you our favourites’.
This website has a recording of someone saying coup de coeur so you can nail the French pronunciation.
How can I use coup de coeur?
C'est l'histoire d'un coup de coeur, celle d'un homme avec une region authentique et sauvage.
It is a story of love at first sight, that of a man with a wild, authentic region.
Vous éprouvez un coup de coeur pour une maison ou pour un appartement?
Have you fallen in love with a house or flat?
(The above examples are from linguee.fr)
READ ALSO:
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