coppia

Coppia is a feminine Italian noun that denotes two elements considered as a unit, either as a pair of objects or as a couple of people. It can refer to a pair of items designed to be used together, such as una coppia di guanti or una coppia di occhiali, or to two people in a relationship or who act as a duo, as in una coppia felice or una coppia di amici che lavorano insieme.

Beyond physical pairs, coppia is used in mathematics or everyday language to describe a linked pair, for example una coppia di numeri (a pair of numbers) or una coppia di cavalli (a pair of horses). The phrase la coppia is also common in cultural contexts to describe a duo that functions as a unit, such as a successful on-screen romantic couple or a collaborating pair in sport or entertainment.

Etimology and usage notes: The word is of Italian origin; its precise etymology is not decisively established. It is related in sense to paio, another Italian term for a pair, but coppia emphasizes the two elements as a unit or pairing rather than merely counting two items. Grammatically, coppia is feminine; the plural is coppie. For counting items, paio is often used, as in un paio di pantaloni; in contrast, coppia stresses the relationship or pairing between the two items or people.