Le coup d'État
Example: Le coup d'État a bouleversé l'équilibre politique du pays.
Definition
"Le coup d'État" refers to a sudden and decisive action, typically by a small group, to overthrow an existing government or political authority, often by force or without legal authority. It disrupts the political balance of a country and results in a swift change of power.
Etymology
The term "le coup d'État" comes from French, where "coup" means 'blow' or 'strike' and "État" means 'state'. It literally translates to 'stroke of state' or 'blow against the state'. The phrase originated to describe a sudden seizure of political power, emphasizing the abrupt and forceful nature of the act.
Learn to use this word actively
"Le coup d'État" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 210 commonly used words.
Would you like to not only understand these words, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select French as the language you want to learn.
Create a free account
