couple

couple — noun

1. around two or three things or people that belong together in some way.

1.nounA2
Definition

around two or three things or people that belong together in some way.

Example

Megan borrowed a couple of novels from the library to read over the weekend.

a couple of + plural noun (novels)

Karim spent a couple of weeks in Ho Chi Minh City learning Vietnamese.

a couple of + time period (weeks)

Common collocations
  • a couple of
  • a couple more
  • a couple less
Synonyms
  • few

    more vague about number; 'a few' often implies three or more, while 'a couple' suggests two

  • pair

    always means exactly two items that belong or match together

  • handful

    emphasises that the number is small but countable, often five or fewer

Antonyms
  • many

    a large number, the opposite of a small indefinite amount

Grammar Patterns

a couple of + plural noun

a couple + of + us/them

Usage Note

When used in positive statements, 'a couple of' usually means two or three. In casual speech, some speakers treat it as roughly equivalent to 'a few'. The 'of' is often dropped before certain words like 'more' ('a couple more minutes') but is standard before other nouns.

Common Mistakes

I have couple of questions.
I have a couple of questions.
You must include the article 'a' before 'couple'.
A couple of hour passed.
A couple of hours passed.
The noun after 'a couple of' must be plural.

2. a pair joined through marriage, romance, or a common objective.

2.nounA2
Definition

a pair joined through marriage, romance, or a common objective.

Example

A young couple sat holding hands on the bench near the fountain.

noun phrase: young couple

Rodrigo and Élise are a married couple who run a small bakery together.

married couple + relative clause

Common collocations
  • married couple
  • young couple
  • elderly couple
  • gay couple
  • newlywed couple
Synonyms
  • pair

    less romantic; can refer to any two people associated together

  • partners

    used for business, dance, or romantic relationships; often more formal than 'couple'

  • duo

    emphasises performance or teamwork; common in music, comedy, or sports

Antonyms
  • individual

    a single person, the opposite of two people together

Grammar Patterns

couple + singular/plural verb

a couple + of + noun

Usage Note

In British English, 'couple' can take a singular or plural verb (e.g., 'the couple is / are expecting a baby'). Plural verb emphasises the individuals; singular verb emphasises the unit. In American English, singular verb is preferred.

Common Mistakes

❌ 'The couple are happy.' (written without context where AmE singular expected) — In AmE, use 'The couple is happy' when referring to them as a single unit. In BrE, both are acceptable.

Idioms

in two shakes | in a couple of shakes

idiom

This phrase means something will happen very quickly or soon.

Maya said she will be ready in two shakes.

Can you finish that report in a couple of shakes?

couple — verb

couple — adjective

Word family

  • coupling
    nounC1
  • coupled
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'A couple', 'a few', 'several', 'a pair', and 'a handful' all refer to small numbers, but they differ in exactness and connotation. 'A couple' suggests approximately two — usually two or three at most — and carries a casual, conversational tone ('a couple of days'). 'A pair' is the only one that means exactly two, and it strongly implies that the two items belong or match together ('a pair of shoes'). 'A few' is more open-ended, typically covering three to five items, and is neutral in register ('a few ideas'). 'Several' implies a number larger than 'a few' — often around four to seven — and sounds slightly more formal ('several witnesses'). 'A handful' is more vivid and informal, emphasising that the count is small enough to fit in your hand ('a handful of volunteers'). For everyday speech about one or two items, 'a couple' is the most natural choice: 'Can you wait a couple of minutes?' For exactly two matching items, use 'a pair': 'She bought a pair of earrings.' For a vague but slightly larger number, 'a few' fits: 'We'll be there in a few days.'

a fewseveral ↗a paira handful

Common collocations

Nouns

  • couple of days
  • couple of weeks
  • couple of hours
  • couple of times
  • married couple
  • young couple

Adverbs

  • together — 'coupled together'
  • rarely — 'rarely couple'

Phrases

  • a couple more
  • the happy couple
  • a couple of things

Prepositions

  • of — 'a couple of'
  • with — 'coupled with'
  • to — 'coupled to'

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

'Couple' entered English through Old French 'cople' from Latin 'copula' meaning 'a bond, tie, or link'. The Latin root 'co-' (together) + 'apere' (to fasten) gives the core idea of two things joined together. The romantic sense ('two people in a relationship') developed in the 14th century. The use of 'a couple' to mean 'a small number' (not necessarily exactly two) appeared in the 16th century. The informal attributive adjective use ('a couple drinks') is a 20th-century American English development, where the 'of' was dropped.