Difficulty Rating
short
short
short
short
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Examples by Level
Ma sœur est ma jumelle.
My sister is my twin.
Les deux jumelles aiment jouer ensemble.
The two twins like to play together.
Elle a une jumelle qui lui ressemble beaucoup.
She has a twin who looks a lot like her.
Les jumelles ont le même anniversaire.
The twins have the same birthday.
C'est la jumelle de ma cousine.
She is my cousin's twin.
Les jumelles portent souvent les mêmes vêtements.
Twins often wear the same clothes.
Elle et sa jumelle partagent une chambre.
She and her twin share a room.
Connais-tu les jumelles de la classe?
Do you know the twins in the class?
Idioms & Expressions
"faux jumeaux / fausses jumelles"
fraternal twins (male/female)
Mes faux jumeaux sont très différents l'un de l'autre. (My fraternal twins are very different from each other.)
neutral"vrais jumeaux / vraies jumelles"
identical twins (male/female)
Ce sont de vrais jumeaux, on ne peut pas les distinguer. (They are identical twins, you can't tell them apart.)
neutral"jumeau/jumelle numérique"
digital twin (a virtual model of a process, product or service)
L'ingénieur a créé un jumeau numérique du moteur. (The engineer created a digital twin of the engine.)
formal"comme des jumeaux"
like two peas in a pod (very similar)
Ces deux frères sont comme des jumeaux, ils ont les mêmes goûts. (These two brothers are like two peas in a pod, they have the same tastes.)
neutral"séparés à la naissance (pour des jumeaux)"
separated at birth (for twins)
Les films aiment raconter des histoires de jumeaux séparés à la naissance. (Movies like to tell stories of twins separated at birth.)
neutral"l'un des jumeaux"
one of the twins
L'un des jumeaux est parti en voyage. (One of the twins went on a trip.)
neutral"une paire de jumelles (binoculars)"
a pair of binoculars
J'ai utilisé une paire de jumelles pour voir les oiseaux. (I used a pair of binoculars to see the birds.)
neutral"la jumelle (the twin sister)"
the twin sister
Ma jumelle est ma meilleure amie. (My twin sister is my best friend.)
neutral"des jumeaux (twins - masculine plural)"
twins (can refer to mixed-gender or all-male twins)
Ils ont eu des jumeaux l'année dernière. (They had twins last year.)
neutral"des jumelles (twins - feminine plural)"
twin girls
Mes cousines sont des jumelles. (My cousins are twin girls.)
neutralTips
Jumelle vs. Jumeau
Remember that jumelle is for a female twin, and jumeau is for a male twin. If there are twins of mixed gender, or if there are multiple male twins, you'd use jumeaux (plural masculine).
Context is key
The context usually makes it clear whether you're talking about a twin or binoculars (which is also 'jumelles' in French). For people, you'll often see it with a possessive adjective like 'ma jumelle' (my twin sister).
Plural form
The plural of jumelle is jumelles. Don't forget the 's' at the end for plural nouns in French!
Sentence example 1
«Elle a une jumelle.» (She has a twin sister.)
Sentence example 2
«Mes jumelles sont très différentes.» (My twin sisters are very different.)
Focus on gender agreement
Like many French nouns, jumelle has a specific gender. It's a feminine noun, so any adjectives modifying it would also be feminine. For example, 'une belle jumelle' (a beautiful twin sister).
Listen for pronunciation
The 'elle' ending in jumelle is pronounced similarly to the 'ell' in bell. Pay attention to the subtle differences in pronunciation between singular and plural forms.
Don't confuse with 'femme'
While both refer to females, jumelle specifically means a twin sister. Femme is a more general term for woman or wife.
Practice with family vocabulary
Integrate jumelle into your practice of other family vocabulary words like 'sœur' (sister), 'frère' (brother), and 'parents' (parents).
Real-world usage
You might hear this word when people are discussing family, or if you're watching a French show where characters have twin siblings. Keep an ear out for it!
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a 'jewel' (jumelle sounds a bit like jewel) that comes in a pair, like identical twins. Or, think of 'jump' (jumelle starts with jum) – twins often jump and play together.
Visual Association
Picture two identical little girls holding hands, perhaps wearing matching outfits, and in their hands, they are holding a 'jewel'. Or, visualize two young girls jumping together in a park.
Word Web
Challenge
Write a sentence using 'jumelle'. For example: - Mes cousines sont des jumelles. (My cousins are twins.) - Elle a une jumelle. (She has a twin sister.) - Les jumelles adorent jouer ensemble. (The twins love to play together.)
Test Yourself 42 questions
Choose the correct word: Marie et Sophie sont des ________.
Marie and Sophie are twins, so 'jumelles' (twins, female) is the correct word.
Complétez la phrase : Mes deux filles sont nées le même jour, ce sont des ________.
If two daughters are born on the same day, they are twins, so 'jumelles' is the correct word.
Sélectionnez l'option correcte : Elle a une ________ qui lui ressemble beaucoup.
If someone has a sibling who looks very similar to them and was born at the same time, it is a twin. 'Jumelle' means female twin.
Si deux bébés filles naissent le même jour, ce sont des jumelles.
This statement is true. 'Jumelles' refers to two female children born at the same birth.
Un garçon et une fille nés le même jour sont des jumelles.
This statement is false. 'Jumelles' refers specifically to female twins. For a boy and a girl, we would say 'jumeaux' (twins, mixed gender).
Ma sœur aînée est ma jumelle.
This statement is false. An 'sœur aînée' is an older sister, not necessarily a twin. Twins are born at the same time.
Listen for 'jumelle' and her name.
Listen for the plural form of 'jumelle'.
Listen for the connection between 'soeur' and 'jumelle'.
Read this aloud:
Elle a une jumelle.
Focus: ju-melle
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Les jumelles sont des filles.
Focus: ju-melles, filles
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
C'est ma jumelle.
Focus: C'est, ma, jumelle
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Elle a une ___ sœur qui lui ressemble beaucoup. (She has a twin sister who looks a lot like her.)
The context implies a sister who looks very similar, which points to 'jumelle' (twin sister).
Les deux ___ sont nées le même jour. (The two twins were born on the same day.)
'Jumelles' specifically refers to female twins, fitting the context of being born on the same day.
Ma voisine a une ___ et elles vont toujours ensemble à l'école. (My neighbor has a twin, and they always go to school together.)
The phrase 'elles vont toujours ensemble' suggests a very close relationship, characteristic of twins. 'Jumelle' is the most precise term.
Elle est la ___ de Sophie. (She is Sophie's twin.)
This sentence directly asks for the relationship, and 'jumelle' is the correct term for a female twin.
Les ___ aiment jouer ensemble dans le jardin. (The twins love to play together in the garden.)
Given the specific vocabulary focus, 'jumelles' is the most appropriate word to describe two female children born at the same birth.
Elles sont inséparables, comme toutes les bonnes ___. (They are inseparable, like all good twins.)
The word 'inséparables' strongly suggests the close bond often found between twins, making 'jumelles' the best fit.
Listen for 'jumelle' and its context.
Pay attention to the plural form of 'jumelle'.
Identify the relationship being described.
Read this aloud:
Je suis une jumelle et j'ai une sœur très spéciale.
Focus: jumelle, sœur, spéciale
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Mes jumelles sont très différentes l'une de l'autre.
Focus: jumelles, différentes
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Avez-vous une jumelle ou un jumeau ?
Focus: jumelle, jumeau
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'My twin and I have the same taste in music.' It describes a shared interest between twins.
This sentence translates to 'She has a twin who lives in Paris.' It indicates that her twin resides in a different city.
This sentence means 'The twins look very similar but have different personalities.' It highlights the common observation that twins can be alike physically but distinct in character.
This sentence describes a close bond between twin sisters, using 'jumelle' to refer to one of them.
This sentence highlights the strong resemblance between twin sisters, using the plural form 'jumelles'.
This sentence contrasts the identical appearance of twin sisters with their distinct personalities.
Elle a une sœur avec laquelle elle partage son anniversaire. Comment la décririez-vous le plus précisément ?
La phrase indique qu'elle partage son anniversaire avec sa sœur, ce qui est la définition d'une jumelle.
Après avoir vu les deux filles identiques, l'infirmière a dit : « Félicitations, ce sont des… »
Des filles identiques nées en même temps sont des jumelles.
Ma mère a eu deux filles le même jour. Elles sont toutes les deux mes…
Deux filles nées le même jour de la même mère sont des jumelles.
Si deux garçons sont nés en même temps, on les appelle des jumelles.
Le mot 'jumelle' est féminin. Pour des garçons, on utiliserait 'jumeaux'.
Avoir une jumelle signifie que vous avez une sœur née au même moment que vous.
C'est la définition exacte d'une jumelle.
Si vous avez une jumelle, elle est nécessairement plus jeune ou plus âgée que vous de quelques minutes.
Bien qu'il puisse y avoir un léger décalage de quelques minutes, elles sont considérées comme étant nées au même moment. L'idée de 'plus jeune' ou 'plus âgée' de manière significative ne s'applique pas aux jumelles.
/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
Jumelle vs. Jumeau
Remember that jumelle is for a female twin, and jumeau is for a male twin. If there are twins of mixed gender, or if there are multiple male twins, you'd use jumeaux (plural masculine).
Context is key
The context usually makes it clear whether you're talking about a twin or binoculars (which is also 'jumelles' in French). For people, you'll often see it with a possessive adjective like 'ma jumelle' (my twin sister).
Plural form
The plural of jumelle is jumelles. Don't forget the 's' at the end for plural nouns in French!
Sentence example 1
«Elle a une jumelle.» (She has a twin sister.)
Example
Ma sœur jumelle est ma meilleure amie.
Related Content
More family words
à charge
B2Dependent (referring to a family member financially supported).
à deux
A2As a pair, two people; together as two.
à domicile
A2at home
à jamais
A2Forever, for all time.
à la charge de
B2Dependent on; at the expense of.
à la mémoire de
B2In memory of; commemorating someone deceased.
à la place de
B2In lieu of; instead of.
à l'amiable
B2Amicably, by mutual agreement.
à l'égard de
A2With regard to; concerning.
à l'image de
B2In the image of, like (e.g., a child resembles a parent).
