<P> There are two common pronunciations in English: </P> <Ul> <Li> / kuːˈpeɪ / koo - PAY, the anglicized version of the French spelling of coupé . The American company Chevrolet, in an effort to lend a touch of class to its two - door hardtops during the 1950s to early 1970s, marketed them with the "Sport Coupé" moniker, using the original French pronunciation . </Li> <Li> / kuːp / KOOP, derived from spelling the word without the acute accent and pronounce it as one syllable . This change occurred gradually and before World War II . This pronunciation is more common in the United States, for example the hot rodders' term Deuce Coupe (DEWSS KOOP) used to refer to a 1932 Ford; this pronunciation is used in the Beach Boys' 1963 hit song, "Little Deuce Coupe". </Li> </Ul> <Li> / kuːˈpeɪ / koo - PAY, the anglicized version of the French spelling of coupé . The American company Chevrolet, in an effort to lend a touch of class to its two - door hardtops during the 1950s to early 1970s, marketed them with the "Sport Coupé" moniker, using the original French pronunciation . </Li> <Li> / kuːp / KOOP, derived from spelling the word without the acute accent and pronounce it as one syllable . This change occurred gradually and before World War II . This pronunciation is more common in the United States, for example the hot rodders' term Deuce Coupe (DEWSS KOOP) used to refer to a 1932 Ford; this pronunciation is used in the Beach Boys' 1963 hit song, "Little Deuce Coupe". </Li>

Shorter model of a car also called a coupe