der Zwilling
twin
One of two children who were born in the same birth.
EXAMPLE
Meine Schwester ist mein Zwilling, aber wir sehen uns überhaupt nicht ähnlich.
My sister is my twin, but we don't look alike at all.
der Zwilling
twin
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Meanings
der Zwilling
Gemini
A person who was born under the zodiac sign Gemini.
EXAMPLE
Als Zwilling ist er sehr neugierig und kommunikativ.
As a Gemini, he is very curious and communicative.
der Zwilling
lookalike
Colloquially, a person or thing that looks confusingly similar to another.
EXAMPLE
Schau mal, der Mann dort drüben ist ja der optische Zwilling von unserem Nachbarn!
Look, that man over there is practically our neighbor's visual twin!
Usage tips
Word structure
The word 'Zwilling' (twin) is derived from the number 'zwei' (two). The ending '-ling' is often used to refer to a person characterized by the root word—here, a person who belongs to a pair of two.
EXAMPLE
Die beiden sehen sich so ähnlich, sie müssen Zwillinge sein.
The two look so alike; they must be twins.
Typical collocations
In a biological context, a distinction is made between 'eineiige Zwillinge' (identical twins, who look very similar) and 'zweieiige Zwillinge' (fraternal twins, who may look like regular siblings).
EXAMPLE
Obwohl sie eineiige Zwillinge sind, haben sie sehr unterschiedliche Persönlichkeiten.
Although they are identical twins, they have very different personalities.
Context clue
When 'Zwilling' is used in the context of horoscopes, zodiac signs, or birthdays, it refers to the zodiac sign Gemini (May 21 to June 21). The plural 'Zwillinge' is also often used for the zodiac sign.
EXAMPLE
Mein Bruder ist im Sternzeichen Zwillinge geboren.
My brother was born under the sign of Gemini.
Colloquial use
This meaning is colloquial and is often used slightly ironically. A typical expression is 'optischer Zwilling' (visual twin) to describe a striking resemblance between two people.
EXAMPLE
Der Schauspieler ist der optische Zwilling meines Bruders.
The actor is my brother's visual twin.
Compare with
Zwilling vs Doppelgänger
doppelgänger
Both Zwilling and Doppelgänger can refer to a person who looks very similar to someone else. Zwilling is a colloquial, figurative term, while a Doppelgänger is usually an unrelated lookalike. Use Zwilling in a casual way and Doppelgänger for especially strong physical resemblance.
Zwilling
Wegen seines gleichen Gesichts wirkt der neue Kollege wie der Zwilling unseres Nachbarn.
Because he has the same face, the new colleague seems like our neighbor’s twin.
Doppelgänger
Im Café saß ein Mann, der meinem Bruder so ähnlich sah, dass alle ihn für seinen Doppelgänger hielten.
A man was sitting in the café who looked so much like my brother that everyone thought he was his doppelgänger.
In real life
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