English Reference
noun

duo

n.
US /ˈduoʊ/ UK /djˈuːəʊ/ duo UK spelling duos

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate Music

    two people who perform together, such as singers or actors.

    a pair of performers, typically in music or comedy, who collaborate as a single act.

    Simple

    The famous comedy duo made the whole audience laugh with their jokes.

    In context

    The electronic duo spent eighteen months in the studio perfecting their debut album, which eventually topped the charts in three countries.

    duetpairdouble act
  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    two people who are often seen together or work as a team.

    any two people associated with each other or involved in a joint activity.

    Simple

    The dynamic duo finished the project three days before the deadline.

    In context

    The investigative duo uncovered a series of financial discrepancies that had gone unnoticed by the auditors for several years.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Formal Music

    a piece of music written for two people to play or sing.

    a musical composition intended for two performers; a duet.

    Simple

    The pianist and the violinist performed a beautiful duo during the recital.

    In context

    The composer’s final work was a complex duo for cello and piano, noted for its intricate interplay between the two instruments.

  4. 04 C2 Proficiency Technical Cooking

    a simple drink made by mixing one strong alcohol with a sweet liqueur.

    a category of cocktail consisting of a base spirit and a liqueur, served without additional mixers.

    Simple

    A Black Russian is a classic duo made of vodka and coffee liqueur.

    In context

    The bartender explained that a duo differs from a trio because it lacks the cream or dairy component found in drinks like the White Russian.

The tragic dustbin duo of Nagg (Derek Elwood) and Nell (Annabel Arden) are ash-faced yet upbeat.

The Guardian· 15 Aug 2026

Because most of Hockney’s double portraits featured well-known duos, “people were bound to ask, ‘Who the hell is Christopher Scott?’” David said.

Smithsonian Magazine· 17 Jun 2026

PIE word *dwóh₁ From French duo or Italian duo, from Latin duo (“two”), from Proto-Italic duō, from Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁. Doublet of two, which was inherited via Proto-Germanic.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin ine-pro *dwóh₁
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated