What does coupe mean?
A coupe is, most commonly today, a two-door automobile with a fixed roof and a sleek, sloping rear profile, prized for its sporty appearance. The word also has older meanings: it originally referred to a closed horse-drawn carriage built for two passengers, and it survives in culinary contexts as a dessert or cocktail served in a wide, shallow stemmed glass. All these senses trace back to the French verb couper, meaning 'to cut,' because the original carriage was essentially a standard coach with its front section cut away. In everyday speech, especially in North America, the spelling 'coupe' and pronunciation /kuːp/ dominate; British usage often retains the accent mark and French-influenced pronunciation. Whether describing a stylish car or an elegant dessert, the word carries connotations of refinement, speed, and classic design.
nounA closed four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage with seating for two inside; in modern usage, a two-door car with a fixed roof and a sloping rear, or a dessert served in a stemmed glass.
- A two-door automobile with a fixed roof and sporty, sloping profile.
- Historically, a closed horse-drawn carriage for two passengers.
- A dessert or drink served in a wide, shallow stemmed glass.
"She arrived at the gala in a sleek vintage coupe, turning heads as she stepped out."
"He traded his family sedan for a low-slung sports coupe."
"The waiter presented a strawberry coupe layered with cream and meringue."
The plural simply adds -s; when the accented form coupé is used, coupés is standard.
"The showroom displayed three gleaming couples side by side."
The word 'coupe' comes from the French verb 'couper' — to cut — because the original carriage was literally a full coach with its front cut off.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of coupe
Coupe derives from the French noun coupé, the past participle of couper ('to cut'), so named because the original vehicle was a closed carriage created by cutting away the front of a standard coach. The term passed into English in the nineteenth century to describe such carriages, then transferred naturally to early motorcars with similar enclosed two-seat bodies. The same French root gives English several other borrowings, including coup (a sudden strike or takeover), recoup (to recover), and couplet.
How coupe is actually used
Pronunciation varies by sense and region: the car is typically pronounced /kuːp/ in the US (sometimes spelled without the accent), while the British form of the car term, coupé, is pronounced /ˈkuːpeɪ/. The dessert and historical-carriage senses are less common today.
Easily confused with coupe
A coup is a sudden seizure of political power, while a coupe is a type of car or dessert — the two share a French root but have entirely different meanings.