doppelganger

English
WOTD – 15 July 2009

Alternative forms

Etymology
PIE word
*dwóh₁
PIE word
*ǵʰengʰ-

Borrowed from German Doppelgänger (“ghostly spirit”, literally “double-walker”).

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈdɒp(ə)lˌɡɛŋə/, /-ˌɡæŋə/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈdɑp(ə)lˌɡɛŋəɹ/, /-ˌɡæŋəɹ/
  • Audio (AU)(file)
  • Audio (UK)(file)
  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun

doppelganger (plural doppelgangers)

  1. A ghostly double of a living person, especially one that haunts such a person.
    Synonyms: double, doubleganger
  2. An evil twin.
    Synonym: alter ego
  3. A remarkably similar double.
    Synonyms: lookalike, alter ego
    • 2021 September 15, Laura Martin, “How talent shows became TV's most bizarre programmes”, in BBC‎:
      Stars in Their Eyes ran for 16 years from 1990, and had the "wow" factor moment of transforming a pub singer into their idol, as the contestant said the famous words: "Tonight Matthew, I'm going to be…" and then stepped out from a puff of dry ice as their musical doppelganger.
  4. (fantasy) A monster that takes the forms of people, usually after killing them.

Translations
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Further reading

Portuguese

Alternative forms

Noun

doppelganger m (plural doppelgangers)

  1. (fantasy) doppelganger (ghostly double of a living person)
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