two
Noun pluraltwos
Often confused with to and too
Pluraltwos
- 1The number 2, or an amount of exactly 2 people or things.
She has two brothers and one sister.
We waited two hours for the bus.
UsageTwo, to and too sound the same: two apples.
- 2The written sign 2, used when we write numbers.
Write a two at the top of your paper.
The two on the mailbox had fallen off.
UsageWrite twos, with no apostrophe.
- 3The time of two o'clock, in the early morning or in the afternoon.
Let's meet at two for ice cream.
The baby woke up crying at two in the morning.
Less common meanings
- 4A playing card that shows the number 2 on it.
She drew a two and groaned.
He put the two of hearts on the table to start the game.
UsageSay the two of hearts.
Similardeuce
Note
- 5A child who is two years old.
Her son is a young two, so he still naps twice a day.
The twos at the daycare take a nap after lunch.
UsageOften the twos: a group of two-year-olds.
Note
- 6A piece of US paper money that is worth two dollars.
Grandpa gave me a two for my birthday.
The young cashier had never seen a two before.
UsageIn formal writing, use two-dollar bill.
Note
- 7Ellipsis of two shot. A short way of naming a camera shot that shows two people at the same time.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
It comes from Old English "twā" and goes back to a very old word meaning "two".
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts
- English "two" derives from Old English "twā". en.wiktionary.org
- Its ancestry includes an ancient word meaning "two", reconstructed as Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁. en.wiktionary.org