couple

/ˈkʌp.əl/

//ˈkʌp.əl// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"couple" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“couple” is in the everyday core of English, ranked #651 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#651
frequency rank, English
6
letters
8
tracked misspellings
18
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Two of the same kind connected or considered together.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

couple vs coups
67% similar
couple vs Coyle
50% similar
couple vs course
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for couple
PropertyValue
Headwordcouple
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkʌp.əl/
Letters6
Frequency rank#651
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs18
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “couple” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). couple lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for couple is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkʌp.əl/. Corpus data places it at rank #651 in overall English word frequency, putting it firmly in the everyday core of the language. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for couple, with forms such as "ccouple", "copule", and "coulpe". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 18 confusable-pair relationships, "coups", "Coyle", "course", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English couple, from Old French couple, from Latin cōpula. Doublet of copula. The correct English form is couple, spelled C-O-U-P-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Two of the same kind connected or considered together.
  2. 2
    Two partners in a romantic or sexual relationship.
  3. 3
    A small number.
  4. 4
    One of the pairs of plates of two metals which compose a voltaic battery, called a voltaic couple or galvanic couple.
  5. 5
    A turning effect created by forces that produce a non-zero external torque.
  6. 6
    A couple-close.
  7. 7
    That which joins or links two things together; a bond or tie; a coupler.

Etymology

From Middle English couple, from Old French couple, from Latin cōpula. Doublet of copula.

Synonyms

twosomebracepairduofewhandful

This word in other languages

pareja(Español)couple(Français)Paar(Deutsch)casal(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ccouple,copule,coulpe,coupel,couplle,coupple,cuople,ocuple

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of couple - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ccouple1copule2coulpe2coupel2couplle1coupple1cuople2ocuple2
Edit distance from "couple"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "couple"?
"couple" is spelled C-O-U-P-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkʌp.əl/.
What does "couple" mean?
As a noun, "couple" means: Two of the same kind connected or considered together.
What words are commonly confused with "couple"?
"couple" is commonly confused with "coups", "Coyle", "course". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "couple"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "couple" is /ˈkʌp.əl/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "couple"?
From Middle English couple, from Old French couple, from Latin cōpula. Doublet of copula. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “couple”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-O-U-P-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈkʌp.əl/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “coups” - see the side-by-side comparison. couple vs coups
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list