coup de foudre

[ koo duh foo-druh ]

noun

, French.

, plural coups de fou·dre [koo d, uh, , foo, -dr, uh].

1. a thunderbolt.
2. love at first sight.

coup de foudre

/ ku də fudrə /

noun

1. a sudden and amazing action or event

Word History and Origins

Origin of coup de foudre¹

First recorded in 1770–80; from French: literally “bolt of lightning”

Word History and Origins

Origin of coup de foudre¹

literally: lightning flash