noun
Common
duo
DYOO-oh
Duo (noun) means Two people, especially performers or partners, doing something together. Example: “The dancing duo practised every evening for the talent show.”
noun
1
Two people, especially performers or partners, doing something together.
"The dancing duo practised every evening for the talent show."
"The comedy duo had the whole audience laughing within minutes."
"They formed a songwriting duo in college and never looked back."
How to use duo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA pair of people who work, perform, or team up together.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
comedy duo
musical duo
dynamic duo
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Word forms
- Plural
- duos
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The dancing _____ practised every evening for the talent show.
Etymology
From Latin duo, "two," borrowed via French and Italian.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for duo
See all rhymes for duo →Frequently asked questions
What does “duo” mean?
The word “duo” means two people, especially performers or partners, doing something together. In plain terms, a pair of people who work, perform, or team up together.
How do you pronounce “duo”?
“Duo” is pronounced DYOO-oh (/ˈdu.oʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “duo” in a sentence?
Here is “duo” used in a sentence: “The comedy duo had the whole audience laughing within minutes.”
What is another word for “duo”?
Words with a similar meaning to “duo” include couple, pair, twosome, brace, couplet and doublet.
What part of speech is “duo”?
“Duo” is a noun.
Where does the word “duo” come from?
The word “duo” comes from Latin. From Latin duo, "two," borrowed via French and Italian.
Is “duo” a common word?
“Duo” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between a duo and a duet?
A duo is the two people themselves, especially two performers or partners who work together. A duet is usually the piece of music or the performance written for two performers. In short, the duo sings the duet.
What is the difference between a duo and a trio?
A duo is two people performing or working together, while a trio is three. Both terms are most common for musical acts but are also used for any close partnership or team of that size.
Is duo singular or plural, and what is its plural form?
'Duo' is a singular noun, and its plural is 'duos'. As a collective noun it can take a singular verb ('the duo is on tour') or, especially in British English, a plural verb ('the duo are on tour'); both patterns are accepted.
Can duo be used for things rather than people?
Duo most naturally describes two people, especially performers or partners doing something together. It is sometimes extended to two closely linked things, as in 'a duo of flavours', but for objects 'pair' is usually the more natural choice.
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