two
4 synonyms for two, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Num — The number after one; the quantity written as 2.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use two
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
the two of us
two by two
in two minds
Etymology
From Old English twā, going back through Germanic to the ancient Indo-European root for "two," shared with words like Latin duo and Greek dúo — it is a very old, widely inherited number word.
Full origin of two →Frequently asked questions
What does “two” mean?
The word “two” means the number after one; the quantity written as 2. In plain terms, the basic counting number 2.
How do you pronounce “two”?
“Two” is pronounced too (/tu/ in IPA).
How do you use “two” in a sentence?
Here is “two” used in a sentence: “She ordered two coffees, one for herself and one for her colleague.”
What part of speech is “two”?
“Two” is a num.
Where does the word “two” come from?
The word “two” comes from Latin. From Old English twā, going back through Germanic to the ancient Indo-European root for "two," shared with words like Latin duo and Greek dúo — it is a very old, widely inherited number word.
Is “two” a common word?
“Two” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between two, to, and too?
Two is the number 2, as in 'two apples.' To is a preposition showing direction or purpose, as in 'go to school' or 'want to help.' Too means 'also' or 'excessively,' as in 'me too' or 'too hot.' All three sound the same but do very different jobs.
How do you write the number 2 in words?
The number 2 is spelled two. Its related forms include second for the ordinal and twice for repetition, plus words like pair or couple when counting sets. Do not confuse the spelling with to or too, which are entirely different words that happen to share the same pronunciation.
What is an example of two in a sentence?
'She has two brothers and one sister.' Here two counts the exact number of brothers. Other examples include 'The recipe needs two eggs' and 'We waited for two hours,' where two always names the quantity that comes immediately after one.
