How Do You Spell TOUCHE?

Pronunciation: [tˈuːʃe͡ɪ] (IPA)

The word "touche" may seem like a peculiar spelling of "touché", but it is actually a valid alternative. In IPA phonetic transcription, "touché" is written as [tuʃe] while "touche" is written as [tuʃ] - both with a silent "e" at the end. The difference lies in the accent mark, with "touché" having a diacritical mark to indicate the stress on the final syllable. Despite the alternative spelling, "touché" remains more commonly used in English writing, especially in contexts related to fencing or verbal repartee.

TOUCHE Meaning and Definition

  1. "Touche" is a French expression that has been adopted into English, primarily used as an interjection to acknowledge a clever or apt point made by someone in an argument or debate. It is derived from the French verb "toucher," which means "to touch." When used in conversation, "touche" signifies that the person speaking has been figuratively "touched" or hit by a remark that exposes a flaw in their argument or highlights an irony in their statement.

    The interjection "touche" is often employed in a lighthearted or playful manner to concede a point gracefully and express admiration or appreciation for the opponent's argumentative skill or wit. It can be used in both friendly banter among peers or interpersonal discussions.

    In addition to being an interjection, "touche" can also be used as a noun to describe a fencing move or a touch scored during a fencing competition when one fencer succeeds in landing a hit on their opponent. This noun usage aligns with the literal meaning of the French verb "toucher," as fencers aim to physically touch their opponent's body with the tip of their weapon to gain a point.

    To summarize, "touche" is a versatile term, utilized both as an interjection to acknowledge a clever point made by someone in an argument and as a noun in the context of fencing.

Common Misspellings for TOUCHE

Etymology of TOUCHE

The word "touché" comes from the French language. It is the past participle of the verb "toucher", which means "to touch" in English. In fencing, "touché" is used as an acknowledgment when a fencer is struck by their opponent's weapon, indicating that a successful hit has been made. Over time, "touché" has been adopted into English as a way to concede a point or acknowledge a clever or valid argument.

Similar spelling words for TOUCHE

Plural form of TOUCHE is TOUCHES

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