# between

> English word · Preposition · IPA /bɪˈtwiːn/ · frequency rank #166

## Definitions
1. In the position or interval that separates (two things), or intermediate in quantity or degree. (See Usage notes below.)
2. Done together or reciprocally.
3. Shared in confidence.
4. In transit from (one to the other, or connecting places).
5. Combined (by effort or ownership).
6. One of (representing a choice).
7. Taking together the combined effect of.

## Etymology
PIE word
 *dwóh₁
From Middle English betwene, from Old English betwēonum (“between, among”, dative plural, literally “by the two, near both”), from Proto-Germanic *bi- (“be-”) + *twīhnaz (“two each”), corresponding to be- + twain. Cognate with Scots between (“between”), Scots atween (“between”), Gothic 𐍄𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌷𐌽𐌰𐌹 (tweihnai, “two each”), Old English betweoh (“between”), Old English twinn (“double, twofold”). More at betwixt, twin.
More distantly related to Ancient Greek διά (diá, “through, across, by, over”) whence English dia- (“through, across, between”).
For the meaning development also compare with Mongolian хооронд (xoorond, “between”), connected with Mongolian хоёр (xojor, “two”).

## Common misspellings (10)
`bbetween`, `betewen`, `bettween`, `betweenn`, `betwen`, `betwene`, `betwween`, `bewteen`, `bteween`, `ebtween`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/between