twin

12 synonyms and 1 antonym for twin, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — One of two children born to the same mother at the same time.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

double match mate pair parallel couple

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

counterpart duplicate Gemini matching

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

similitude twinned

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

One of two children born to the same mother at the same time.

“The twins are identical and hard to tell apart.”

double counterpart duplicate match mate pair similitude Gemini

2. verb

To form an official partnership between two places, especially towns in different countries.

“The town is twinned with a village in France.”

mate parallel couple pair match duplicate

3. adj

Consisting of two matching or paired items.

“We booked a twin room for the trip.”

duplicate twinned matching

Opposites

different

How to use twin

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

identical twins twin brother twinned with

Etymology

From Old English twinn ("double, two-fold"), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "two each," ultimately from the ancient word for "two."

Full origin of twin →

Frequently asked questions

What does “twin” mean?

The word “twin” means one of two children born to the same mother at the same time. In plain terms, one of two siblings born together, or anything that closely matches another thing.

How do you pronounce “twin”?

“Twin” is pronounced twihn (/twɪn/ in IPA).

How do you use “twin” in a sentence?

Here is “twin” used in a sentence: “The twins are identical and hard to tell apart.”

What part of speech is “twin”?

Depending on how it is used, “twin” can be a noun, a verb and an adjective.

Where does the word “twin” come from?

The word “twin” comes from Old English. From Old English twinn ("double, two-fold"), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "two each," ultimately from the ancient word for "two.".

Is “twin” a common word?

“Twin” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “twin” have?

“Twin” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: one of two children born to the same mother at the same time.

What is the difference between identical and fraternal twins?

Identical twins develop from a single fertilized egg and are strikingly similar, while fraternal twins develop from two separate eggs and can look as different as any siblings. Both are twins because they are born to the same mother at the same time.

Can twin be used as an adjective?

Yes. Twin often works before a noun to mean paired or matching, as in "twin beds," "twin towers," or "twin engines." This use draws on the sense of two closely matched things.

People also searched

different couple match double pair mate parallel matching counterpart duplicate Gemini twinned

Nearby words

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