zwee / zwou

Two: Zwee and Zwou

Level 1

Before a feminine noun, two is zwou: zwou Fraen. Otherwise it is zwee: zwee Männer, zwee Kanner.

How It Works

How to choose

  • zwou + feminine noun: zwou Fraen, zwou Stonnen, zwou Kazen
  • zwee + masculine noun: zwee Männer, zwee Hënn
  • zwee + neuter noun: zwee Kanner, zwee Joer
  • zwee when counting: eent, zwee, dräi

The noun after two is plural, but the plural does not show gender. Think of the singular with its article: d'Fra is feminine (déi Fra), de Mann is masculine, d'Kand is neuter. See noun gender.

Clock times
Because Auer is feminine, two o'clock is zwou Auer, just as one o'clock is eng Auer. See telling the time.

Only two changes
Dräi, véier and all higher numbers stay the same. In longer numbers such as zweeanzwanzeg (22), the dictionary writes zwee. See numbers above 20.

With the article: déi zwou Fraen (the two women), déi zwee Kanner (the two children).

Examples (6)

  1. Ech hunn zwou Kazen.

    I have two cats.

    Word by Word: I have two cats.

    Kaz is feminine.

  2. Et ass zwou Auer.

    It's two o'clock.

    Word by Word: It is two hours.

    Auer is feminine.

  3. Mir hunn zwee Kanner.

    We have two children.

    Word by Word: We have two children.

    Kand is neuter.

  4. Zwee Männer an zwou Fraen waarden op de Bus.

    Two men and two women are waiting for the bus.

    Word by Word: Two men and two women wait for the bus.

    Mann is masculine and Fra is feminine. An keeps its n before z.

  5. Si bleiwen zwou Wochen zu Lëtzebuerg.

    They are staying in Luxembourg for two weeks.

    Word by Word: They stay two weeks in Luxembourg.

    Woch is feminine.

  6. Eis Noperen hunn zwee Hënn.

    Our neighbours have two dogs.

    Word by Word: Our neighbours have two dogs.

    Hond (dog) is masculine; its plural is Hënn.

Common Mistakes

  • Using zwee with a feminine noun.

    Ech hunn zwee Schwësteren.
    Ech hunn zwou Schwësteren.

    Schwëster is feminine, so two is zwou.

  • Using zwou with a neuter noun.

    Mir hunn zwou Kanner.
    Mir hunn zwee Kanner.

    Kand is neuter, so two is zwee. Always check the gender of the singular noun.

  • Saying zwee for two o'clock.

    Et ass zwee Auer.
    Et ass zwou Auer.

    Auer is feminine, so the clock time needs zwou.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

zwee / zwouLevel 1Two: Zwee and Zwou

Learn This First

Before Two: Zwee and Zwou, learn Numbers 1-12 and Three Noun Genders.

Words in This Pattern