English Reference

Word

two

US/ˈtu/

UK/tˈuː/

Definitions

01the number 2

A1 · Beginner

num. the number 2.

num. the cardinal number between one and three.

“I have two sisters and one brother.”

“The experiment required two separate control groups to ensure the validity of the final results.”

Synonyms

a pair ofa couple of

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.

“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

two shot

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

two vs to vs too

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

Domain

Film

This entry

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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