both in English
- both⇄adj. the two; the one and the other.
Ex. Both houses are white.
pron. the two together.
Ex. Both belong to him. - both⇄adv. together or alike; equally.
Ex. He fears and hopes both at once.
conj. together; alike; equally.
Ex. He is both strong and healthy. - both⇄both, adjective, pronoun, adverb, conjunction.
both in Kashmiri कॉशुर
both in Sindhi سنڌي
both in Tamil தமிழ்
both Deals on Amazon
Both
Part of Speech
Conjunction, Pronoun
Pronunciation
both /boʊθ/
Definitions
- Used to refer to two things or people together.
- Used as a pronoun to emphasize two items or people as a combined subject or object.
- In coordination, indicating the two members of a pair or group considered equally or jointly.
Usage Examples
- Both John and Mary attended the event.
- She bought both apples and oranges for the fruit salad.
- We will go to both locations tomorrow.
Etymology
The word "both" comes from the Old English "bōþ," derived from Proto-Germanic *baþe, meaning "two together" or "both sides." It has been used in the English language since the 12th century.
Synonyms
- Two
- Both sides
- Each of the two
Antonyms
- Neither
- One
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| English | Both | /boʊθ/ |
| Spanish | Ambos | /ˈambos/ |
| French | Tous les deux | /tu le də/ |
| German | Beide | /ˈbaɪ̯də/ |
| Chinese | 两者 | /liǎng zhě/ |
| Arabic | كِلا | /kila/ |
| Hindi | दोनों | /doːnoː/ |
| Bengali | উভয় | /ubôẏo/ |
| Marathi | दोन्ही | /dɔːn̪ʱi/ |
| Gujarati | બધા | /bədʰɑː/ |
| Telugu | రెండూ | /reṇḍū/ |
| Tamil | இரண்டு | /iraṇṭu/ |
| Kannada | ಎರಡು | /eraḍu/ |
| Malayalam | രണ്ട് | /raṇṭu/ |
| Punjabi | ਦੋਹਾਂ | /dohā̃/ |
| Odia | ଦୁହିଁ | /duhiṁ/ |
| Assamese | দুৱে | /duʝɔ/ |
| Sinhala | එයාලා | /eyālā/ |
| Urdu | دونوں | /doːnoː/ |
| Malay | Kedua-duanya | /kədʊa-duaɲa/ |
| Japanese | 両方 | /ryōhō/ |
| Korean | 두 개 모두 | /du gae modu/ |
| Russian | Оба | /ˈobə/ |
| Turkish | Her ikisi | /hɛr ikisi/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
The pronunciation of 'both' may vary slightly in different dialects of English. In some areas, a softer 'th' sound (/θ/) is pronounced, while in others, it may be pronounced as /t/ or /d/ in more informal speech.
Historical Usage
The use of 'both' has remained relatively consistent in English for centuries, originating from Old English 'bōþ,' which signified two people or items. It has been commonly used in both written and spoken forms since the early medieval period.
Cultural Nuances
In certain cultures, the emphasis on 'both' can carry significance, particularly in dualistic philosophies where balance or pairing is important, such as in the Yin and Yang in Chinese culture or the concept of complementary forces in Indian philosophy.
More Information
'Both' is a fundamental word in English used to refer to two items, people, or concepts considered together. It is widely used in daily conversation, writing, and academic discourse. 'Both' is often used to emphasize the equality or partnership of the two elements it connects. In addition to its basic use in referring to two things, 'both' can also express a sense of inclusivity, unity, or partnership, making it a versatile and essential part of the language.