twenty - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
twenty Word Meanings
- the number 20
- a score of 20 years old
- a group or set of twenty items
twenty Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
twenty Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈtwɛnti/
US
/ˈtwɛnti/
twenty Word Etymology
From Old English 'twenti', root 'twain' (two) + '-ty' (based on tens). Twenties are often associated with youth and vitality, imagine a vibrant group of young adults celebrating their 20th birthday with fireworks and joy.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I steady my grip and push a small stack of cards toward the edge of the table. I count aloud as each card lands, moving toward twenty, and the pile grows one by one. The effort tightens my shoulders, I adjust my stance, and I keep the pace steady. By the time the last card sits, the number twenty feels like a simple checkpoint I can use to move a real task forward.
Real Context
Twenty is the cardinal number 20, used across contexts to count items, describe ages, or refer to durations and groups. It appears in phrases like twenty people, twenty dollars, or a score of twenty in games. Etymologically it comes from Old English twenti, formed from two (twain) and the suffix -ty, signaling a ten-based multiplier. In modern English, twenty also marks a time span of roughly two decades and functions as a common unit in dates and measurements. Learners should note related forms such as twenty-one and twenty-something, and distinguish when twenty denotes exact quantity versus age or period. Awareness of collocations helps natural-sounding speech and precise writing.
Usage Reminders
- Remember the basic meaning:
- Use twenty to describe exact quantity or a time/age group.
- Pair with a plural noun for counting (twenty books).
- Know phrases like twenty dollars and twenty people.
- Twenty-something signals roughly twenty years old.
- Pay attention to pronunciation: TWEN-ty with the stress on the first syllable.
Common Misconceptions
- Twenty always means exactly 20; it can never be approximate.
- Twenty is the same as 'twentieth' which refers to the ordinal 20th.
- When followed by a plural noun, it means twenty individual items, not just two tens.
- The phrase 'the twenties' only refers to ages and not to the 1920s depending on context.
- 'A score of twenty' is always used in standard modern speech.
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker (meta, keep short): Twenty is a precise numeral in basic counting but carries varied usage in age, time, and grouping contexts; learners often mix up quantity with age or period.
Learning Tips
- Think of twenty as two tens when counting.
- Use twenty to describe exact quantity, dates, or ages.
- Differentiate age from quantity with context and collocations.
- Learn twenty-something for an approximate age.
- Note common phrases: twenty dollars, twenty people.
- Pronounce TWEN-ty with primary stress on the first syllable.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'twenty'?
A.Piece of clothing
B.Number between nineteen and twenty-one
C.Large amount
D.Vehicle
Step 2: Usage
How is the word 'twenty' used in a sentence?
A.They drove twenty chairs to the park.
B.He wore twenty shoes to the party.
C.I read twenty books in a day.
D.She bought twenty apples at the grocery store.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which of the following is a similar word to 'twenty'?
A.Fifty
B.Eleven
C.Hundred
D.Ten
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'twenty'?
A.Zero
B.Thirty
C.Nineteen
D.Fifteen
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life context would you typically encounter the number 'twenty'?
A.Age of adulthood
B.Number of days in a week
C.Number of hours in a day
D.Number of cents in a quarter
Related Listening
🌱 Lite (Beginner)
🔥 Advanced
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