French word

couche

Pronunciation

IPA/kuʃ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounlayer

Example

Il y a une couche de peinture sur le mur.

There is a layer of paint on the wall.

Illustration for couche (layer)

More examples

La couche d'ozone s'amincit.

The ozone layer is thinning.

Core concept

Something laid in place as a covering or support, from an absorbent baby garment to paint on a wall or a place for sleeping.

Common phrases

  • une couche de peinture

    a layer of paint

  • une couche de poussière

    a layer of dust

  • la couche d'ozone

    the ozone layer

Similar words

niveau: A position or stage within a scale or progression.
couche-culotte: An absorbent sheet used as a baby's diaper.
épaisseur: The degree of thickness of an object or material.

Definition in French

Objet absorbant destiné aux bébés pour recueillir l'urine et les selles ; par extension, strate superposée ou lieu pour dormir selon le contexte.

Word origin

Couche comes through Old French from the verb coucher, ultimately from Latin collocare, meaning to place or lay together.

Usage tips

  • Couche is not the usual French word for an English sofa; the similar English word couch is a false friend here.

Other meanings

  • diapernoun
  • bednoun

Related words

  • sous-coucheundercoatnoun
  • surcoucheadditional layernoun

Word lists with this word