A couple of
Example: I saw a couple of birds sitting on the tree.
Definition
"A couple of" is a phrase used to indicate a small number of something, typically two or a few, but not precisely defined. It commonly refers to an approximate quantity, often meaning two, as in the example 'I saw a couple of birds sitting on the tree.'
Translations
-
un par de -
een paar -
un parell de -
quelques -
zwei oder drei
Etymology
The phrase "a couple of" originates from the Old French word 'cople,' meaning two individuals considered together. Over time, it evolved in English to refer not only to exactly two but also to a small, indefinite number, reflecting its flexible usage in everyday language.
Learn to use this expression actively
"A couple of" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (A1) - set 1", containing 104 commonly used expressions.
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