Standard Lemma guide

twi-

prefix · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

prefix

Meaning 1

two

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, morpheme, rare

Examples

  • twi-headed

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

prefix

Meaning 2

double, both

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, morpheme, rare

Examples

  • twilight, twisexual, twi-tongued

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English twi-, from Old English twi- (“two, double”), from Proto-Germanic *twi- (“two-, double-”), from Proto-Indo-European *dwi- (“two-, double-”) (compare Proto-Germanic *twiz- (“twice”), from Proto-Indo-European *dwís (“twice”)), from Proto-Indo-European *dwóh1 (“two”). Compare twin, twice, two, and see more details at two. Further related to the prefixes bi-, di-, and dis-. Cognate with German zwie- (“twice”), Swedish tve- (“twi-, double”), Russian дву- (dvu-), двух- (dvux-) Old Prussian dwi- (“twi-”), Latin bi-, bis (“twice”) (< Old Latin dui-, duis).

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: zwie- — two
  • Irish: dé- — two
  • Russian: дву- (dvu-) — two
  • Russian: двух- (dvux-) — two