French word

coqueluche

Pronunciation

IPA/kɔkəlyʃ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounwhooping cough

Example

L'enfant a attrapé la coqueluche.

The child caught whooping cough.

Illustration for coqueluche (whooping cough)

More examples

Le vaccin protège contre la coqueluche.

The vaccine protects against whooping cough.

Core concept

The same word points either to a troubling fit of coughs or to the person attracting every affectionate gaze.

Common phrases

  • attraper la coqueluche

    catch whooping cough

  • vaccin contre la coqueluche

    whooping cough vaccine

  • épidémie de coqueluche

    whooping cough outbreak

Similar words

grippe: A viral infection that causes sudden fever, aching joints, and other flu-like symptoms.
bronchite: Inflammation of the bronchial tubes that causes coughing and mucus.
toux: The symptom or condition of coughing.
angine: Inflammation of the throat causing severe pain and fever.

Definition in French

Maladie provoquant la toux convulsive, dans l'usage courant; au sens figuré, personne très prisée.

Word origin

Coqueluche is an old French disease term of uncertain deeper origin, with the sense of a favored person arising through later metaphorical extension.

Usage tips

  • The final -che in coqueluche is pronounced like English sh, giving roughly /kɔ.kə.lyʃ/ rather than an English k sound.

Other meanings

  • favoritenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word