Doppelgänger
/ËdÉpÉlÉĄÉĹÉr/noun
A person who closely resembles another person, especially an uncanny or supernatural double.
Did you know?German writer Jean Paul coined Doppelgänger in 1796 for a personâs uncanny double, helping transform the idea of the phantom twin into modern popular culture.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dwĂłh
âTwo; the ancient numerical root behind the wordâs âdoubleâ senseâ
Ancient Greek
Greek
dĂ˝Ĺ
âTwo; a related Indo-European form that later produced words such as dyadâ
Old High German
Old High German
doppal
âDouble; borrowed from Latin duplusâ
Middle High German
Middle High German
doppel
âDouble or twofoldâ
1796
German
Doppelgänger
ââDouble-goerâ; coined by Jean Paul for an uncanny personal doubleâ
19th Century
English
doppelganger
âAn uncanny look-alike or supernatural double, adopted as an English loanwordâ