When you say "a couple" do you mean two or do you mean a few

A couple can mean just "a small number" depending on context. Generally I'll use it to mean two though, and use "few" for "a small number".

I usually try to intend it as a group of two things. But I'm sure I've used it differently a few times.

"Just One" means 1

"A couple, a duo, a pair," means 2

"a few, just a bit, not too much" means 3-4

"several, plenty, a handful" means 5-7

"A whole bunch, over do it, lots and lots, go overboard" means 8+

Context is always important, but for my part I don't recall using "couple" for anything other than "two".

where's the option for depends on context

I use it incorrectly on occasion, but it's always purposeful--sort of as an ironic understatement. For example, my friends are arguing about an obscure video game thing and they know I play a ton video games. Maybe one of them says "Hey, man you play video games, right?" To this I might reply "Yeah, I've played a couple of those."

When I'm not being a smarmy ass, I exclusively use "couple" to refer to two items of a group.

Around 2, but not necessarily exactly 2. If I wanted to be that precise I would just say "two" so there's no chance for confusion.

Even if you may be technically correct, if you say you want a "couple" of something when you actually mean exactly two then it's your own damn fault if you don't end up with exactly two.

Context sensitive, especially when translated in my mother-tounge (we use what literally would translate in english to "pair" more than "couple", the latter is used only in card games and when indicating two linked individuals/things). Examples: if I say "let's have a couple drinks more" i'm actually saying a few more; if i say "let's wait a couple hours" i mean around two hours.

I think I've used "couple" to mean more than 2 a couple of times. A couple of times. A couple of times. A couple of times.

As a kid I always said a couple meaning a few. Now that I’m 30 I’ve tried to stay on track and keep it to meaning 2.

A couple objectively means two and if you've ever used it to mean more than that specific number you're doing it wrong, son.

I was a lowly peasant I was, but now I'm a proper intellectual I is.

If I mean specifically two I say two, If I just want a small amount but I don't really care either way I'll say couple or few or whatever.

I will trust that most people will understand contextually what is appropriate.

A couple is two. A couple is two people. If two things are together, they are coupled.

You can use "a couple" to mean "a small number" if it's a casual conversation and the number doesn't actually matter. "Oh yeah, I've seen a couple of those Marvel movies, they're pretty good." It doesn't matter if you've seen exactly 2 or 3 or 4, the point of the statement is your opinion about the films, not the number you've seen. If specificity matters, then "a couple" means two.

When I say a couple, I mean two. Because a couple means two, goddamnit.

It's two. It's always been two. It will always be two. Anything else leads to the breakdown of civilization and the dawn of the ant people.

Don't let the ant people win.

If i say 'give me a couple regarding to candy, i ask for a small amount'.

If i say i need a couple of tires, i request 2 tires. Actually, i would never say 'couple' if i need to be specific. I would just say i need 2 tires.

but a couple means two >:[

A couple means two to me, also. I have trouble with 'several'. I guess that means 2-3? even a little larger amount, say 4? Always thought that to be two also, but I know I'm wrong.

Also I may use couple as in 'couple of dollars' as simply a small amount.

I used to mean more than two, but now I use it just as two. If I mean more than two, I say few or several. Generally, when it comes to three specifically I'll use few, and then when it's more than three but not higher than five I'll say several. I think several and few are the same though.

Several is more than a few but less than a bunch.

@frostyryan: Actually, it can mean either "two" or "an indefinite small number." Language evolves, it's pretty cool.

I use "a couple" when I want to specify more than one of something but very little--particularly when I can't remember or don't know what the exact number is. If someone says "a few" of something, that says to me 4-5 or more, but less than 10. If I wanted to mean two of something, I'd just say two.

If I think the amount in question was two but am not sure exactly, I say "couple" to imply it was probably but not definitely two, could've been three. If I know it's two, I'll say two. Most people who use the word couple absolutely and correctly every single time are often saying it with a different inflection and with regards to a specific thing (a married couple, etc.). There's a finality and confidence in that tone.

People who say couple with the other inflection -- that sort of laid back, not concerned with accuracy tone -- are saying, "It was probably around two but it doesn't matter to me and I don't remember exactly." The word means two, no question, but the tone now used with it in certain contexts doesn't always imply it. That's what's different.

The word couple has definition. There is a correct answer in how to use it. Arguing for it’s incorrect use based on “context,” is still incorrect use.

I use it both ways. The second one is more context sensitive. I often mean it as "at least two" when the number or relation is unknown or unclear and you don't want to overcommit.

@bladededge:

Several is three-ish. It is defined as "More than two but not many"

To the original point, a couple is two, but it's also the right word if the number is about two but you aren't sure or aren't being precise. If you know for a fact that it is a number more than two, you should use "several". The fact that you can use "a couple" informally to mean more than two is not because it means more than two but because in the context it's being used, the specific number doesn't actually matter.

The literal definition of "couple" is 2, so how you can use it for 3 or more is beyond me.

I try to be as precise with my words as possible, so for the most part I use the word "couple" when I mean "2."

I'm not sure, but I'm fairly sure I say "a couple of minutes" pretty often when I don't mean two minutes at all.

It actually has 2 meanings to married men. A couple is 2 people, however when your wife asks how many beers have you drank. You say a couple which is anywhere between 2 and 30. Ha ha

I use it to mean "two", otherwise it feels like I'm straight-up trying to confuse people.

Couple doesn't mean 'two' anyway. It means two things that are similar. It has a specific use, but we've adapted it to mean two informally.

If someone said they bought a couple of things at the store, a Pepsi and a magazine, I wouldn't say, "They're not a couple! They're completely unrelated! Say two!"

We accept minor inaccuracies in our social lives, because they have no repercussions at all. Using it to mean, "probably two but could've been three," is as minor as using it to mean two things in general, related or unrelated. We're all wrong.

I tend to just not use couple in general. If I need to be specific I feel like couple isn't good enough (for the same reason this thread even exists). Though if I do end up saying it in everyday conversation, then I probably actually mean "a few".

As with most words context matters.

• My wife and I went with a couple to the movies. [two people went to the movies with two other romantically involved people]
• A couple of us were already driving to Florida ,so we filled up the van with friends and had a road trip. [Two or more, with more being implied strongly by context, got even more people together for a trip to Florida.]
• We went on an impromptu fishing expedition, a couple of people were in the boat. [Several people were in that boat, likely more than you'd want to name in an off-hand comment]
• We went as a couple to Italy. [Two romantically involved people went to Italy]
• In 1978, I saw a heroin addicted couple in a gutter in New York city! [You met Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen.]

@mightyduck: I do this as well

Typically where I would have once used the word "couple" I use the word "few" and try to restrict the usage of "couple" to 2

I say couple for anything up to 10.

@veektarius: Dictionary definitions are nice, but have absolutely no baring on how I use the words. That is how the people who live where I do have always essentially treated those terms.

If I want to say two I will just say it. I use a couple generally meaning anything from about 2-5

As a foreigner english learner I appreciate this post. Always got confused by that.

A couple can mean more than just two things, you know.

Other than that, I usually use it to mean a pair to avoid confusion. Simple stuff.

@bladededge: I mean, I live in the United States and have lived in several regions of it. Didn't need a dictionary to know that. You might be more confusing than you realize.

@veektarius: You realize there are hundreds of differnt localities in just US alone, right? If I, the kids I grew up with, our parents, and the community I lived in used the definitions as I spelled them out..so much so that I can by memory quote it back if I give it a moments thought..I'm gonna say again. Definitions are nice, but have absolutely nothing to do with reality of my personal view.

Remember the OP? A poll about what you mean when you use 'a couple'. I answered that, then gave the expanded definition, unique to me. As did most everyone else. In response you 'Well actually the text book definition.." me. I grant you that your good at reading a dictionary, but point out how it has nothing to do with my personal experience or the social group I learned it from..and you respond back to me by saying "Well I've been in a few social groups too, and we didn't do it that way, your clearly confused and don't realize it". Which to me reads as "Silly hick, your ignorance is cute".

Please, in the future, try and respect that opinions can exist outside your own without needing any qualifying 'I guess you can think that but your confused" attachments.

Cheers.

It depends on the context. Like a romantic couple always means 2. If I'm asking for a couple of something, its synonymous with asking for "a handful of". I feel like if you have a specific number in mind, you should just specify the number.

Ahem. *Extremely pedantic professor voice* If you are using "a couple" as a noun to refer to a literal couple, the I would submit that "a couple" actually means one. Multiple people as a singular collective entity.

I do stick my pinky up at you lowly peasants. j/k

Only time i say couple to mean anything other than 2 is when i say "A couple of minutes"