Word
two
US/ˈtu/
UK/tˈuː/
Definitions
01the number 2
A1 · Beginner
num. the number 2.
num. the cardinal number between one and three.
日本語:二※
Español:dos
“I have two sisters and one brother.”
“The experiment required two separate control groups to ensure the validity of the final results.”
Synonyms
02the time
A1 · Beginner Uncountable noun
n. two o'clock.
n. the second hour after midnight or noon.
“The meeting starts at two, so don't be late.”
“By the time the clock struck two, the exhausted students had finally finished their group project.”
03the digit or symbol
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. the written symbol 2.
n. the graphic symbol or digit representing the number two.
日本語:二※
“Write a large number two at the top of the page.”
“The child carefully traced the figure two in the sand with a wooden stick.”
04film/camera shot
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Theater Technical
n. a camera shot that shows two people.
n. a 'two shot'; a cinematic technique where the frame encompasses two subjects, usually from the waist up.
“The director asked for a two to show the chemistry between the actors.”
“The cinematographer suggested framing the scene as a tight two to emphasize the growing tension between the protagonists.”
Synonyms
05playing card
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a playing card with the number two on it.
n. a playing card in a standard deck featuring two pips.
“He played a two of hearts to start the game.”
“In many card games, the two is the lowest-ranking card unless specific rules designate it as a wild card.”
Synonyms
Confusables
To marks a destination or an infinitive, too indicates excess or addition, and two is the number 2.
RememberTo is for travel; Too has an extra 'o'; Two has a 'w' like twelve.
Etymology
PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle English two, twa, from Old English twā, feminine and neuter of twēġen (whence twain), from Proto-West Germanic twai-, from Proto-Germanic twai, from Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁. Cognates Cognate with Scots twa (“two”); North Frisian tou, tuu (“two”); Saterland Frisian twäin, two (“two”); West Frisian twa (“two”); Dutch twee (“two”); Low German twee, twei (“two”); German zwei, zwo (“two”); Danish and Norwegian to (“two”); Swedish två, tu (“two”); Icelandic tvö (“two”); Faroese tvey (“two”); Latin duō (“two”); Ancient Greek δύο (dúo, “two”); Irish dhá (“two”); Lithuanian dù (“two”); Russian два (dva, “two”); Albanian dy (“two”); Old Armenian երկու (erku, “two”); Sanskrit द्व (dvá, “two”); Tocharian A wu, Tocharian B wi. Doublet of duo. See also twain. Unrelated to similar words in Austronesian languages such as Malagasy roa; Tagalog and Cebuano dalawa; West Coast Bajau and Minangkabau duo; Buginese ᨉᨘᨓ (dua); Indonesian, Malay, Iban, Iranun, Ilocano, and Sundanese dua; Fijian, Māori, Rapa Nui, and Rotuman rua; Tongan and Niuean ua; Wallisian, Samoan, and Hawaiian lua; and South Marquesan 'ua; which originated from Proto-Austronesian *duSa.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
02. eat for two
04. feed two birds with one scone
05. for two pins
07. hit two targets with one arrow
08. it takes two to make a quarrel
10. kill two birds with one stone
Show all 38
13. one step forward, two steps back
16. show someone a thing or two
18. stand on one's own two feet
19. that ever walked on two legs
20. turn two
21. two a penny
23. two bob
24. two cents
25. two for two
26. two ha'pennies for a penny
27. two lamps burning and no ship at sea
28. two left feet
29. two left hands
30. two penn'orth
31. two pennies to rub together
34. two steps ahead
36. two thumbs up
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/two
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0