Inklingo
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gemela

/heh-MEH-lah/

twin

Two young girls with identical features and matching dresses sitting together.

A pair of twin sisters who look exactly alike.

gemela(noun)

fA1

twin

?

a female sibling born at the same time

Also:

identical twin

?

specifically someone who looks exactly like their sister

📝 In Action

Tengo una hermana gemela y mucha gente nos confunde.

A1

I have a twin sister and many people confuse us.

Ella es la gemela de María.

A1

She is Maria's twin.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • melliza (twin (often used for non-identical))

Common Collocations

  • alma gemela – soulmate
  • hermana gemela – twin sister

💡 Grammar Points

Using the feminine form

Since this word ends in 'a', it refers specifically to a female twin. If you are talking about a male twin, you would use 'gemelo'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gemela vs. Melliza

Mistake: "Using 'gemela' for any twin."

Correction: In many regions, 'gemela' specifically means identical twins who share the same DNA, while 'melliza' is used for fraternal twins (those who don't look exactly alike).

⭐ Usage Tips

Talking about soulmates

Even if you are a man, if you are calling someone your 'soulmate', you say 'mi alma gemela' because the word for soul (alma) is feminine in its essence here.

Two identical red apples sitting side-by-side on a wooden table.

Two identical objects that match each other perfectly.

gemela(adjective)

fB1

identical

?

referring to things that match perfectly

,

twin

?

used for paired objects like beds

📝 In Action

Las dos ciudades tienen torres gemelas en el centro.

B1

The two cities have twin towers in the center.

Compré dos sillas gemelas para el comedor.

A2

I bought two identical chairs for the dining room.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • idéntica (identical)
  • igual (equal/same)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • camas gemelas – twin beds
  • torres gemelas – twin towers

💡 Grammar Points

Agreement with nouns

This word must match the thing it describes. Use 'gemela' for one feminine thing and 'gemelas' for two or more feminine things.

⭐ Usage Tips

Hotel vocabulary

When booking a hotel, if you want two separate single beds instead of one big bed, ask for an 'habitación con camas gemelas'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: gemela

Question 1 of 2

If you are looking for a soulmate in Spanish, what do you look for?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

gemelo(male twin) - noun
gemelos(binoculars / cufflinks / male twins) - noun
gemelar(related to twins) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'gemela' always mean identical?

Technically yes, it refers to siblings from the same egg. However, in casual conversation, some people use it for any twin sister. If you want to be precise about fraternal twins, use 'melliza'.

Why is 'alma gemela' feminine if I am a man?

The adjective 'gemela' matches the noun 'alma' (soul), which is a feminine word. In Spanish, adjectives match the noun they describe, not the person speaking.