Coucou

[Frecossais]

My French friend has recently begun to use the term "coucou" in her emails. It seems to be a form of Hello - Hi  perhaps? Anyone know anything about its origins or use?

[mint]

To faire un petit coucou is to say hello.  Odile, who is alas no longer with us, used to say that when she came on the Forum (especially on Frenchie's "French" thread).

I think it's a bit better than when we say "Coooeeee!" in English.  That always sounds a bit irritating to my ear.  And my natural response (which I suppress, of course!) is What do you want now?

[Dave&Olive]

hi ok

   http://french.about.com/od/vocabulary/g/coucou.htm

                  Dave

[zarathustra]

I always say it to very young kids if they come up to me.

[Frecossais]

Thanks for your responses. I'll try it out in writing before I say it to anyone, somehow I feel a bit hesitant about using it. Don't know why.

[Frecossais]

Maybe I'm imagining everybody responding to my "coucou" the way you do to Coo-ee, Sweet17. Nice you are able to control your reaction though.

[zeb]

We all coucou our female friends here...verbally and in emails....seems normal to me.

[Suze01]

I use it all the time

[Gardengirl]

Coucou is used by various French friends in emails or when attracting someone's attention if out and about. I rather like it, use it myself when I see someone I know across the way and sometimes in emails.

[Doodle]

My french neighbour has in the last fortnight got herself a pc and connection to orange. Everyday I get several test emails with the title coucou so I've been replying using coucou. I think before long she'll have driven my cuckoo !!

Chris

[rowland]

Our immediate neighbour stands at our gate and shouts coucou when she wants to attract our attention.

[Frecossais]

Today I mentioned the word coucou to a French woman who has been living in UK for many, many years. She said it was a word that only children used to one another. Looks as if it's been hi-jacked. I have now (rather self-consciously) used it in an email.

[Frenchie]

I use it all the time, on the phone, in e mails, in life, it is not reserved to children at all, but you wouldn't use it when talking to your boss or the Maire or whoever you 're not familiar with .

[ericd]

My mother uses "Coucou" when she calls....Coucou c'est moi.....

[Patf]

When I call to see someone locally I first knock and as no-one seems to hear I call "Yoohoo" which I think is the english equivalant of "Coucou". They usually respond to that.

[Frenchie]

[quote user="ericd"]My mother uses "Coucou" when she calls....Coucou c'est moi.....[/quote]

So does mine !