coup de foudre
The phrase "coup de foudre" literally translates to "a bolt of lightning" in French, but it is used metaphorically to describe love at first sight. It captures the sudden, overwhelming, and electric feeling of being struck by an intense romantic attraction the very moment you lay eyes on someone. It is a poetic and somewhat romanticized term. While you might use it in casual conversation, it carries a slightly dramatic or literary weight compared to simply saying "I fell for them immediately." It is almost exclusively used in the context of romantic sparks rather than general excitement about an object or a hobby.
In conversation
Discussing a friend's new partner
How did you and Mark meet? Was it a slow burn?
How did you and Mark meet? Was it a slow burn?
Not at all. It was a total coup de foudre at the coffee shop.
Not at all. It was a total love at first sight moment at the coffee shop.
Used to describe an instantaneous connection.
Reflecting on a past relationship
Do you believe in love at first sight?
Do you believe in love at first sight?
I used to be a skeptic, but then I had a real coup de foudre experience.
I used to be a skeptic, but then I had a real love at first sight experience.
Highlights the transformative nature of the feeling.
Examples
It was a classic coup de foudre the moment they met at the gala.
It was a classic love at first sight the moment they met at the gala.
She described their meeting as a sudden coup de foudre that changed her life forever.
She described their meeting as a sudden love at first sight that changed her life forever.
Despite their different backgrounds, the coup de foudre they experienced was undeniable and profound.
Despite their different backgrounds, the love at first sight they experienced was undeniable and profound.
