twins

Everyday

1. Twins are two children born to the same mother at the same birth. tree →
2. Identical twins come from one egg that splits, so they look almost the same; non-identical (fraternal) twins come from two eggs and may be a boy and a girl. tree →
3. Twin (adjective) means one of a matching pair: «twin beds», «twin towers». tree →
4. Twin towns or sister cities are towns in different countries that are friends and visit each other. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons, twins help explain inheritance: identical twins have the same genes, but they still have different fingerprints and personalities. In maths, twins have the same age, and «twin primes» are primes that differ by 2 (like 11 and 13). In stories twins are often swapped or mistaken for each other. Phrases: «identical twins», «twin brother», «twin sister».

Examples

• Sam and Lily are twins. tree →
• My twin brother was born ten minutes before me. tree →
• Identical twins can be hard to tell apart. tree →
• The twins have different fingerprints. tree →
• We stayed in a room with twin beds. tree →
• Our town is twinned with a town in France. tree →
• Twins have the same birthday. tree →
• “And we are your children,” cried the twins. tree →

Note

Singular: a twin («she is a twin», «my twin»). Three babies: triplets; four: quadruplets. Myth: identical twins are exactly the same person — they are two separate people with their own minds. Maths: if twins are 9, together their ages add to 18.

In Jewish tradition

Twins are born to Rebekah (Jacob and Esau) and to Tamar (Perez and Zerah).

Interpretation. Tradition sees Jacob and Esau as opposites from birth, one tied to Israel and one to Edom.

Examples

• And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. (Torah GEN.25.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. (Torah GEN.38.27, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thy two breasts are like two fawns that are twins of a gazelle. (Writings SNG.7.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thy two breasts are like two fawns that are twins of a gazelle, which feed among the lilies. (Writings SNG.4.5, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Singular: a twin («she is a twin», «my twin»). Three babies: triplets; four: quadruplets. Myth: identical twins are exactly the same person — they are two separate people with their own minds. Maths: if twins are 9, together their ages add to 18.