French Conversation · Level 7
87 words
French word
couper
Pronunciation
IPA/kupe/
Meaning
- verbcut
Example
Je coupe le pain.
I cut the bread.
More examples
Elle m'a coupé la parole pendant la réunion.
She interrupted me during the meeting.
Core concept
A force passes across something that was joined, separating it or stopping its movement where the force crosses.
Common phrases
couper le pain
cut the bread
couper le courant
cut off the power
couper la parole
interrupt someone
Similar words
découper: To cut food or paper into smaller pieces.
interrompre: To stop an ongoing action or conversation midway.
trancher: To slice through something forcefully, splitting it in two.
Definition in French
Séparer ou enlever une partie d'un objet ou d'une matière au moyen d'un outil tranchant ou d'une action de force.
Word origin
Couper comes from Old French coper, a verb associated with coup and the action of striking or cutting.
Usage tips
- In couper la parole à quelqu'un, the indirect object uses à, and the expression can sound rude because it means interrupting someone while speaking.