Il colpo di stato
Example: Il colpo di stato ha cambiato rapidamente il governo del paese.
Definition
"Il colpo di stato" refers to a sudden and illegal overthrow of a government, typically executed by a small group, often involving force or threat, resulting in a swift change of political power within a country.
Etymology
The phrase "il colpo di stato" originates from Italian, where "colpo" means 'blow' or 'strike' and "stato" means 'state.' Together, it literally means 'blow of the state,' describing a forceful and rapid seizure of governmental control. Did you know this term captures the dramatic nature of political upheaval in just three words?
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"Il colpo di stato" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used words.
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the coup d'état