쌍둥이
ssangdung'i[s͈a̠ŋduŋi]
The English word twin is 쌍둥이 (ssangdung'i) in Korean. Wiktionary also lists 갈오기 (garogi).
Meaning: either of two people who shared the same uterus, or of two similar or closely related objects (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 쌍둥이 | ssangdung'i | [s͈a̠ŋduŋi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | |
| 갈오기 | garogi | [ka̠ɾo̞ɡi] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | dialectal, obsolete |
쌍둥이 is used to refer to either of two people who shared the same uterus, or to two similar or closely related objects.
Is it said differently in some regions?
갈오기 is an obsolete or dialectal way to say twin.
How does it change in a sentence?
For example, 쌍둥이 형제 means twin brothers. To indicate plurality, the form 쌍둥이들 is used.
How do you pronounce it?
ssangdung'i
Did you know?
- When referring to twins, Koreans specify who is the 첫째 (first) and 둘째 (second) based on the exact order of birth, even if they are only minutes apart.
- The suffix -둥이 in 쌍둥이 is often added to words to create affectionate terms for children, such as 귀염둥이 for a 'cutie'.
- The word 쌍 in 쌍둥이 is the same character used in 쌍꺼풀, which refers to 'double eyelids', a highly valued beauty trait in Korea.
Examples in context
- 제 친구는 쌍둥이입니다.My friend is a twin.
- 쌍둥이들은 서로 닮은 점이 많아요.Twins often resemble each other.
- 저 아이들은 쌍둥이에요.jeo aideureun ssangdungieyo.Those children are twins.
- 그는 쌍둥이 형이 있어요.geuneun ssangdung-i hyeong-i isseoyo.He has an older twin brother.
- 우리는 쌍둥이처럼 닮았어요.urineun ssangdung-icheoreom dalmasseoyo.We look alike like twins.
Example conversation
Minji and Dohyun are looking at a photo.
- 민지 Min-ji이 사진 속 사람들은 누구예요?i sajin sok saramdeureun nugu-yeyo?Who are the people in this photo?
- 도현 Do-hyeon제 쌍둥이 형과 저예요.je ssangdung-i hyeong-gwa jeoyeyo.It is my twin older brother and me.
- 민지 Min-ji정말 똑같이 생겼어요!jeongmal ttogachi saenggyeosseoyo!You look exactly the same!
- 도현 Do-hyeon다들 그렇게 말해요.dadeul geureoke malhaeyo.Everyone says that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “twin” translations and entries 쌍둥이, 갈오기, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
