two

• twa (obsolete outside dialects)

From Middle English two, twa, from Old English twā, neuter of twēġen (whence twain), from Proto-Germanic *twai, from Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁.

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”); 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 (“two”). See also twain.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /tuː/, [tʰu̟ː], enPR: to͞o

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• (US) IPA^(key): /tu/, [tʰu̟], enPR: to͞o
• (obsolete) IPA^(key): /twuː/, enPR: two͞o

• Audio (US)

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• Audio

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• Rhymes: -uː
• Homophones: to, too

two

1. A numerical value equal to 2; this many dots (••). Ordinal: second.
   • 1912, Zane Grey, Riders of the Purple Sage, Chapter 8

     Venters began to count them—one—two—three—four—on up to sixteen.

2. Describing a set or group with two elements.
   • 1927, F. E. Penny, chapter 5, in Pulling the Strings:

     “[…] The two murders might have been done by one of the ryots who was dissatisfied over his assessment and thought he had a grievance. […].”

• Table of cardinal numbers 0 to 9 in various languages

two (plural twos)

1. The digit/figure 2.

   The number 2202 contains three twos.

2. (US, informal) A two-dollar bill.
3. A child aged two.

   This toy is suitable for the twos and threes.

4. The playing cards featuring two pips.

• two-up
• two's complement

• OTW, TOW, Tow, WTO, owt, tow, wot

From Old Frisian twā. Compare North Frisian twäär, tou (Mooring), tau (Föhr-Amrum) and West Frisian twa.

• IPA^(key): /tvɔ/

two

1. two

• two is the form used with feminine and neuter nouns; twäin is used for masculine nouns

• twäin