Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| gemelo | /xeˈmelo/ | masculine |
| gemela | /xeˈmela/ | feminine |
| mellizo (dizygotic) | masculine | |
| melliza (dizygotic) | feminine | |
| chachagua | /t͡ʃat͡ʃaɡwa/ (from spelling rules) | Nicaragua, masculine |
| chacho | /ˈt͡ʃat͡ʃo/ /ˈt͡ʃat͡ʃo/ (Canary Islands) |
El Salvador, Honduras, masculine |
| cuache | /kwat͡ʃe/ (from spelling rules) | Guatemala, masculine |
| cuape | /kwape/ (from spelling rules) | Nicaragua, masculine |
| cuate | /ˈkwate/ | Mexico, masculine |
| guape | /ɡwape/ (from spelling rules) | Costa Rica, masculine |
| guápil | /ɡwapil/ (from spelling rules) | Costa Rica, masculine |
| jimagua | /ximaɡwa/ (from spelling rules) | Cuba, masculine |
| morocho | /moˈɾot͡ʃo/ | Venezuela, masculine |
The term refers to either of two people who shared the same uterus, or to two similar or closely related objects.
Which one should you use?
While both can mean twin, gemelo and gemela are often used specifically for identical (monozygotic) twins. In contrast, mellizo and melliza are the specific terms used to refer to fraternal (dizygotic) twins.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Several regional terms exist for twin: cuate is a very common colloquial term in Mexico. jimagua is used in Cuba. morocho is used in Venezuela. chachagua and cuape are used in Nicaragua. chacho is used in El Salvador and Honduras. cuache is used in Guatemala. And guape or guápil are used in Costa Rica.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a pair of twins as a set, use the masculine plural form gemelos regardless of gender if the pair includes at least one male.
How do you pronounce it?
/xeˈmelo/
When do people say it?
In Argentina and Uruguay, the colloquial term los melli is used to refer to the twins.
Did you know?
- While gemelo is the standard word for twin, it is also the common Spanish name for the calf muscle in the leg.
- In Mexico, the colloquial term cuate is used for twins, but it is also a very common way to say 'friend' or 'buddy'.
- The English word 'gimbal', used for a pivoted support, shares a common ancestor with the Spanish word gemelo via the Latin root 'geminus'.
Examples in context
- Tom no es un gemelo.Tom isn't a twin.This sentence is useful for expressing that someone is not a gemelo.Tatoeba #8962681 by ignacio, translation #8962536 by CK
- Tengo un hermano gemelo.I have a twin brother.This sentence is useful for stating that you have a brother who is a gemelo.Tatoeba #4291735 by DarkHollow, translation #2252490 by CK
- Tengo un gemelo idéntico.I have an identical twin.This sentence is useful for describing having an identical gemelo.Tatoeba #1321855 by marcelostockle, translation #249806 by CK
- Ellos son mellizosThey are twin brothers
- Mis primos son gemelosMy cousins are twins
- ¡Hola Carlos! ¿Cómo están los gemelos?Hi Carlos! How are the twins doing?
- 34 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are looking at old family photos.
- MaríaMira esta foto, ¿quién es este chico?Look at this photo, who is this boy?
- AlejandroÉl es mi gemelo, nos parecemos mucho.He is my twin, we look a lot alike.
- MaríaNo sabía que tenías un gemelo.I didn't know you had a twin.
- AlejandroSí, pero vivimos en ciudades diferentes.Yes, but we live in different cities.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “twin” translations and entries gemelo, gemela, chacho, cuate, jimagua, morocho, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gemela, gemelo, mellizo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
