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du coup

so

C’est une expression utilisée pour montrer la conséquence ou la suite logique de quelque chose, un peu comme dire 'alors' ou 'par conséquent'.

Definition & meaning

"Du coup" is a very common idiomatic expression in French, used primarily in spoken language. It has two main meanings:

  1. Consequence or Result: This is the most frequent modern usage. It functions as a logical connector meaning "so," "therefore," "as a result," or "consequently." It indicates that the following statement is a direct result of what was previously mentioned. For example: "Il pleuvait, du coup je suis resté chez moi" (It was raining, so I stayed home).
  2. Suddenness: In its older or more literal sense, it can mean "suddenly," "all at once," or "immediately following an event." While this usage is less common in casual conversation today compared to its role as a filler word, it is still found in literature or specific contexts to describe a swift action.

In modern French, "du coup" is often used as a filler phrase (tic de langage) to transition between ideas, even when there is no strong cause-and-effect relationship.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammatically, "du coup" is an adverbial phrase (locution adverbiale).

The phrase is composed of two parts:

  • du: A contraction of the preposition "de" (of/from) and the definite article "le" (the).
  • coup: A noun meaning "blow," "hit," "stroke," or "impact."

The word "coup" derives from the Vulgar Latin colpus, which comes from the Greek kolaphos (a blow with the fist). Historically, the expression "du coup" suggested the immediate aftermath of a physical strike or a sudden event. Over time, the physical "blow" became a metaphorical "point in time" or a "logical step," leading to its current use as a causal link.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

Depending on the context, "du coup" can be replaced by several other French words or phrases:

  • Logical consequence: donc, alors, par conséquent[?](vocabuo://word/par conséquent), de ce fait[?](vocabuo://word/de ce fait), ainsi.
  • Suddenness: soudain, brusquement, tout à coup[?](vocabuo://word/tout à coup).

Antonyms

Since "du coup" usually introduces a logical result, its antonyms are words that introduce a contradiction or an opposition:

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Examples

Il a oublié son portefeuille, du coup nous n’avons pas pu entrer au cinéma.other

He forgot his wallet, so we couldn’t get into the cinema.

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