zwei
two
Zwei is the German word for the number two. It is used for counting and as a quantity, and it can also refer to two people or things together. In everyday speech, Germans often use 'zwei' in phrases like 'ihr zwei' (you two) to address a pair.
Heard in real German videos
Lines where zwei was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Warum qualmt ihr zwei denn so?Why are you two smoking like that?
- Ihr zwei wartet hier einfach auf uns.You two just wait here for us.
- Tja, es gibt aber nur zwei Teams, Bingo.Well, there are only two teams, Bingo.
Example sentences
- Ich habe zwei Brüder.I have two brothers.
- Es sind nur noch zwei Äpfel da.There are only two apples left.
- Wir treffen uns um zwei Uhr.We are meeting at two o'clock.
- Die zwei Kinder spielen im Garten.The two children are playing in the garden.
Common phrases
- ihr zweiyou two
- zu zweitin twos, as a pair
- zwei und zwei zusammenzählento put two and two together
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers sometimes confuse 'zwei' with 'zwo' (used for clarity on the phone or radio) or with 'zwie-' in compound words like 'Zwielicht' (twilight). Use 'zwei' in normal speech.
Don’t confuse it with
- zwo — Zwo is an alternative form of zwei used mainly in radio communication or on the phone to avoid confusion with drei.
Questions learners ask
How do you say 'two' in German?
You say 'zwei'.
When do you use 'zwo' instead of 'zwei'?
Use 'zwo' when you need to be very clear, like on the phone or radio, because 'zwei' and 'drei' can sound similar.
Is 'zwei' declined?
The numeral 'zwei' is generally invariable. The noun 'die Zwei' (the number two) is a feminine noun and declines like other feminine nouns.