gemini
The English phrase "twins" is translated into Latin as gemini.
gemini refers to two children born from the same pregnancy.
What does it mean word for word?
gemini is the nominative plural form of the noun geminus.
Which one should you use?
While gemini is used for a pair of twin boys or a mixed-gender pair, if you are specifically referring to a pair of twin girls, you would use geminae.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes based on gender and number: geminus is the masculine singular form, gemina is the feminine singular form and geminae is the feminine plural form for two girls. gemini is the masculine or mixed-gender plural form.
Did you know?
- The term gemini appears in early anatomical texts to describe paired organs, such as the kidneys or lungs, treating them as 'twins' of the body.
- The word gemini is used in the names of several historical scientific missions, such as NASA's Project Gemini, to signify the two-person crew of the spacecraft.
- The English word 'geminate' is a direct descendant of geminus, meaning it describes something that is doubled or repeated, such as a twin consonant in linguistics.
Examples in context
- Iam tempus pariendi venerat, et ecce gemini in utero eius.And when her time was come to be delivered, behold twins were found in her womb.This sentence describes the discovery of twins in a womb using gemini.Tatoeba #7800668 by carlosalberto, translation #7867847 by carlosalberto
- Gemini sunt.They're twins.This sentence is a simple way to state that they are twins using gemini.Tatoeba #8457666 by alexmarcelo, translation #2111231 by CK
- Gemini cecinerunt.The twins sang.This sentence uses gemini to describe twins who sang.Tatoeba #8457668 by alexmarcelo, translation #2252593 by CK
- Filii mei sunt gemini.My sons are twins.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Aurelia and Marcus are looking at a baby photo.
- AureliaVide, Marce, hi sunt gemini!Look, Marcus, these are twins!
- MarcusVero, similes nimis sunt.True, they are too similar.
- AureliaUterque geminus pulcher est.Each of the twins is beautiful.
- MarcusIta est, sunt lepidissimi.It is so, they are very charming.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gemini, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
