coup de fouet
\ku d(ə) fwɛ\
The verdict
“coup de fouet” is uncommon French (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency French
- 13
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Coup administré avec un fouet.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | coup de fouet |
| Language | French |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | \ku d(ə) fwɛ\ |
| Letters | 13 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “coup de fouet” sits in French frequency
Rare enough to double-check
coup de fouet is uncommon French outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed \ku d(ə) fwɛ\. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 8 senses are on record.
We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for coup de fouet, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
This entry carries no recorded etymology, so its spelling is best read as a straightforward mapping from sound to letter. The correct French form is coup de fouet, spelled C-O-U-P- -D-E- -F-O-U-E-T.
Definition
- 1Coup administré avec un fouet.
- 2Impression vive qui a pour résultat d’exciter l’activité physiologique.
- 3Rupture de fibres musculaires, ou de muscles minces, qui survient à la jambe par suite d’un effort.
- 4Accélération d’une activité.
- 5Stimulation apportée par un excitant, une boisson.
- 6Nuance impérative contenue dans l’intonation de celui qui parle.
- 7Stimulation intellectuelle apportée par les circonstances.
- 8Choc provoqué par la rupture d'une connexion de flexibles hydrauliques ou de tuyaux d'air comprimé. La rupture de la canalisation sous pression provoque l'éjection brutale de liquide et un mouvement de va-et-vient du tuyau pouvant endommager des équipements ou provoquer des blessures graves.
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “coup de fouet”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct French spelling is C-O-U-P- -D-E- -F-O-U-E-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as \ku d(ə) fwɛ\ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more French words and confusable pairs in the same reference. French 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.