# twenty

/ˈtwɛni/ (US) · /twˈɛnti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/twenty
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the number 20

numeral · CEFR A1

the number 20.

For teachers: the cardinal number occurring after nineteen and before twenty-one.

- There are twenty students in the classroom today.
- The research team spent twenty months collecting data before they felt confident enough to publish their preliminary findings.

### 2. the years 20-29

noun · CEFR A2

the years in a century from 20 to 29, or the age between 20 and 29.

For teachers: the decade of a century or the years of a person's life between twenty and twenty-nine inclusive; usually plural.

- The city grew very quickly during the twenties.
- Economic historians often compare the current market volatility to the boom-and-bust cycles seen in the nineteen-twenties.

### 3. a 20-unit banknote

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a piece of paper money worth twenty dollars, pounds, or euros.

For teachers: a banknote with a denomination of twenty units of currency.

- He reached into his wallet and pulled out a twenty to pay for the meal.
- The cashier asked if I had anything smaller, as she was unable to provide change for a twenty so early in the shift.

### 4. location

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · American English · Slang

your current position or location.

For teachers: a term used to request or provide a current location, derived from the '10-20' radio code.

- I'm at the front entrance of the mall; what's your twenty?
- The dispatcher requested a twenty from the patrol unit to determine which vehicle was closest to the scene of the accident.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'What's your twenty?'

Teaching tip: This originated in CB radio and police codes but is now used casually in some dialects to ask where someone is.

## Examples

- There are twenty students in the classroom today.
- The shop assistant gave me twenty dollars in change after I paid for the groceries.
- Although the committee originally requested thirty volunteers, only twenty arrived at the site to begin the restoration work on the historic building.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.