English Rewind - News Words: Coup

???? What is a coup - and how do you pronounce this word? In this archive episode of News Words we guide you through some real English language news stories featuring the word 'coup' to improve your English news vocabulary knowledge AND practise your English listening.

Has your country ever experienced a coup, either successful or failed? Send us your short 'news story' on this topic and don't forget to use the word 'coup' ????????????

Uses of 'coup':
✔️ a coup - When a group tries to take power from the current leaders. This can be used to refer to the attempted takeover of a country or, on a smaller scale. the removal of an individual with authority in a political party or organisation.
✔️ a coup d'état - Expression from French also now used in English though often shortened to just 'coup'. Note that in all forms the 'p' in 'coup' is silent.
✔️ collocations with coup - a coup attempt; a military coup; a failed coup; to stage a coup
✔️ a coup - an unexpected and impressive achievement. Example: It was such a coup for our magazine to get an interview with Paul McCartney.

Example sentences:
???? Capt Camara seized power in a coup in December 2008 after the death of long-time ruler Lansana Conte (BBC News 2010)
???? After living and working since the late 1960s in Lagos, Nigeria, I found myself caught up in events surrounding an attempted coup against General Abacha. (BBC My Story 2010)
???? Gordon Brown's insisting he's not moving despite last week's failed coup. (BBC News 2010)
???? The US has halted all non-humanitarian aid to Honduras - about $30m (ÂŁ18.4m) - in the wake of June's coup. (BBC News 2009)

Image: Getty
English Rewind is a collection of programmes from the BBC Learning English archive. This episode of News Words was first published on the BBC Learning English website in November 2009.

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