Inklingo

gemelas

/he-MEH-lahs/

female twins

Two identical young girls with the same hair and matching dresses standing side by side.

Gemelas refers to two girls born from the same pregnancy who look identical.

gemelas(noun)

fA1

female twins

?

two girls born from the same pregnancy who look identical

Also:

identical twins

?

referring specifically to girls

📝 In Action

Mis tías son gemelas y es difícil distinguirlas.

A1

My aunts are twins and it is hard to tell them apart.

Las gemelas celebran su cumpleaños hoy.

A1

The twins are celebrating their birthday today.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • mellizas (fraternal twins)

Common Collocations

  • hermanas gemelastwin sisters
  • ser gemelasto be twins

💡 Grammar Points

When to use 'gemelas'

Use this word only when referring to a group of female twins. If there is one boy and one girl, or two boys, the word changes to 'gemelos'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Identical vs. Fraternal

Mistake: "Using 'gemelas' for sisters who were born at the same time but don't look alike."

Correction: In many Spanish-speaking regions, 'gemelas' is specifically for identical twins, while 'mellizas' is used for fraternal twins.

⭐ Usage Tips

Telling them apart

A common phrase to use with gemelas is 'parecerse como dos gotas de agua,' which means they look as similar as two drops of water.

Two identical red houses built side by side in the same style.

As an adjective, gemelas describes two things that are identical or paired.

gemelas(adjective)

fA2

twin

?

describing two things that are identical or paired

Also:

matching

?

objects that look exactly the same

📝 In Action

Nueva York era famosa por las Torres Gemelas.

A2

New York was famous for the Twin Towers.

Compramos dos camas gemelas para la habitación.

B1

We bought two twin beds for the room.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • idénticas (identical)
  • parecidas (similar)

Common Collocations

  • almas gemelassoulmates
  • camas gemelastwin beds

💡 Grammar Points

Matching the Noun

Because this is an adjective here, it must be plural and feminine because the objects it describes (like 'camas' or 'torres') are plural and feminine.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: gemelas

Question 1 of 2

If you are talking about two identical sisters, which word should you use?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'gemelas' and 'mellizas'?

Generally, 'gemelas' refers to identical twins (from the same egg), while 'mellizas' refers to fraternal twins (from two different eggs). However, in some countries, people use them interchangeably.

Can 'gemelas' refer to a boy and a girl?

No. In Spanish, if a group has even one male, you must use the masculine form 'gemelos'.