Korean word

쌍둥이

Pronunciation

Romanizationssangdungi

Meaning

  • nountwin

Example

그들은 쌍둥이예요.keu deu reun ssang dung i ye yo

They are twins.

Illustration for 쌍둥이 (twin)

More examples

의사는 산모에게 쌍둥이가 있다고 말했어요.ui sa neun san mo e ge ssang dung i ga it tta go mal hae sseo yo

The doctor told the expectant mother that she was carrying twins.

Core concept

Two siblings born in the same pregnancy, seen together as a matched pair.

Common phrases

  • 쌍둥이 아기ssang dung i a gi

    twin babies

  • 쌍둥이 형제ssang dung i hyeong je

    twin brothers

Similar words

쌍둥이들ssangdungideul: A plural form marking twins as a group or as one identified pair.
쌍생아ssangsaenga: A formal noun for two children born together in the same pregnancy.

Definition in Korean

같은 부모에게 한 배에서 태어난 형제자매로, 성별과 상관없이 둘을 가리키는 말.ka teun pu mo e ge han pae e seo tae eo nan hyeong je ja mae ro seong byeol gwa sang gwa neop ssi tu reul ka ri ki neun mal

Word origin

The term is commonly analyzed as 쌍 (ssang, "pair") + 둥이 (dungi, "person or child suffix"), highlighting a pair of children born together.

Usage tips

  • English distinguishes one twin from the pair of twins, while Korean often lets context show whether this word refers to one child or both.

Opposites

Related words

  • 쌍생아ssangsaengatwinnoun
  • 쌍둥이자리ssangdungijariGemininoun

Word lists with this word