coucher

Senses

1. 1.

   to lay down, to put to bed

   to place someone (especially a child) horizontally on a bed for sleep

2. 2.

   to sleep, to go to bed

   to lie down or retire to bed for the night

3. 3.

   to lie down, to recline

   to assume a horizontal position on a surface

4. 4.

   to set (of the sun)

   to sink below the horizon at day's end

Examples

• "Elle couche son enfant à 20 heures."

  She puts her child to bed at 8 p.m.

• "Je me couche tard le weekend."

  I go to bed late on weekends.

• "Le soleil se couche à l'ouest."

  The sun sets in the west.

Usage

Coucher is a common verb with reflexive use (se coucher = to go to bed) and transitive use (coucher quelqu'un = to put someone to bed). The noun form is coucher (masculine), as in "au coucher du soleil" (at sunset). Note the phonetic spelling: some speakers pronounce it with a silent 'h'-always write it.