a friendly couple

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a friendly couple' is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase can be used to describe two people who are friendly and get along well with each other. For example, "John and Mary are a friendly couple; they always have a warm welcome for anyone who visits them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Gift Wrap Through work, we met a friendly couple.

The New York Times

It's always a pleasure to deal with a friendly couple.

The Guardian - Opinion

They called the Silvas a friendly couple constantly working toward a better life.

The New York Times

For most of my childhood, our neighbors across the street were a friendly couple named Alejandro and Luz.

The New Yorker

On a seaplane ride over mystic fjords and a rolling green landscape of glacier-carved valleys, I oohed and aahed alongside a friendly couple.

The New York Times - Magazine

My mother found work as a maid in San Borja, four days a week at the Azcárates', a friendly couple with a son my age.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

During a meal for this week's Tables for Two review of the Blue Ribbon Downing Street Bar, I happened to sit next to a very friendly couple who made a game of guessing the origin of a glass of red wine.

The New Yorker

By Andrea Thompson August 12, 2008 During a meal for this week's Tables for Two review of the Blue Ribbon Downing Street Bar, I happened to sit next to a very friendly couple who made a game of guessing the origin of a glass of red wine.

The New Yorker

We spent our 10th anniversary in Bali, and I had heard about a charming but spare place in the middle of a rice field, owned by a very friendly couple who told great stories.

The New York Times - Travel

They were South American, such a lovely, friendly couple.

Vice

Mary's Bed 'n' Breakfast ($45 B&B;, shared baths) is tiny but immaculate and has fluffy coverlets on beds, run by a most friendly couple answering to Nita and Jerry.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a couple, use "a friendly couple" to quickly convey that they are approachable and pleasant to interact with. This phrase is useful in travel writing, personal anecdotes, or character descriptions in fiction.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "a friendly couple" as the only descriptor. Expand on how they are friendly. Provide specific examples of their interactions or behaviors to paint a more vivid picture for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a friendly couple" functions primarily as a descriptive noun phrase. It modifies the noun "couple" with the adjective "friendly", indicating a quality or characteristic of the couple. Ludwig AI confirms its standard usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a friendly couple" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe two people in a relationship who are approachable and pleasant. As Ludwig AI confirms, it adheres to standard usage conventions. While the phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts, it is versatile enough to be used in various writing styles. To enhance clarity, avoid using it as a sole descriptor and provide specific examples of their friendly behavior. For nuanced descriptions, consider using synonyms like "an amicable pair" or "a genial duo".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a pleasant couple

Substitutes "friendly" with "pleasant", indicating they are agreeable and nice to be around.

an amicable pair

Replaces "friendly" with "amicable", suggesting a more formal and polite friendliness.

an approachable couple

Focuses on how easy it is to talk to and interact with them using "approachable".

a genial duo

Uses "genial" which implies warmth and cheerfulness, and "duo" instead of "couple".

a good-natured pair

Uses "good-natured" to describe their generally agreeable and kind disposition.

a kind-hearted pair

Emphasizes their kindness and compassion using "kind-hearted".

a warm twosome

Emphasizes the warmth of their relationship using "warm" and "twosome" as a synonym of "couple".

a well-disposed duo

Highlights their positive and kind attitude using "well-disposed".

an affable twain

Replaces "friendly" with "affable", highlighting their easygoing nature, and "couple" with "twain".

a sociable dyad

Emphasizes their social nature using "sociable" and replacing "couple" with the less common "dyad".

FAQs

How can I use "a friendly couple" in a sentence?

You can use "a friendly couple" to describe two people who are affable and easy to get along with. For example, "A friendly couple welcomed us to the neighborhood and offered to help us move in".

What's the difference between "a friendly couple" and "a pleasant couple"?

"A friendly couple" emphasizes warmth and approachability, while "a pleasant couple" suggests they are agreeable and nice to be around, but not necessarily outgoing.

What can I say instead of "a friendly couple"?

You can use alternatives like "an amicable pair", "a genial duo", or "an approachable couple depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "a friendly couple" or should it be "a couple of friends"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they have different meanings. "A friendly couple" describes two people in a relationship who are generally affable. "A couple of friends" simply means two people who are friends.