French Conversation · Level 89
60 words
French word
coucou
Pronunciation
IPA/kuku/
Meaning
- interjectionhi
Example
Elle a dit coucou en entrant.
She said hi as she came in.
More examples
La voisine a dit coucou en passant.
The neighbor said hello while passing by.
Core concept
A cheerful voice popping up at a doorway or at the start of a message to signal friendly presence.
Common phrases
dire coucou à quelqu'un
say hello to somebody
répondre coucou
respond with hello
Similar words
bonjour: A polite greeting used during the day.
salut: A casual greeting for someone familiar.
bonsoir: A greeting used from the evening onward.
allo: A greeting used on the phone or to call to someone at a distance.
Definition in French
S'emploie pour attirer l'attention d'une personne de manière enjouée, employée aussi comme appel bref dans un message ou un texto.
Word origin
French coucou is an onomatopoeic word based on the call of the cuckoo bird and later developed a familiar calling use.
Usage tips
- Coucou is familiar and warm, so formal correspondence usually calls for a more neutral greeting.
Other meanings
- cuckoonoun
- peekaboointerjection
Opposites
- au revoirbyeinterjection