Ambos

Ambos is a term used in Spanish and Portuguese to mean "both." In both languages, it functions as a determiner or pronoun referring to two entities that have been previously mentioned or are understood in context. The form agrees with the gender and number of the nouns it accompanies in each language.

In Spanish, ambos is masculine plural, and the feminine plural equivalent is ambas. As an adjective or determinative, it can precede a noun, as in "ambos libros" (both books), or stand alone as a pronoun referring to two people or things, as in "¿Qué hicieron, los dos? Ambos." For two masculine or mixed-gender items, ambos is typical; for two feminine items, ambas is used.

In Portuguese, both masculine and feminine forms exist as gendered plurals: ambos (masculine) and ambas (feminine). It can function similarly to Spanish, modifying nouns or acting as a pronoun. For example, "Ambos países assinaram o acordo" uses both as a determiner. In everyday Brazilian Portuguese, "os dois" is a common alternative for “the two,” while "ambos" tends to appear in more formal or written contexts.

Etymology and cross-language notes indicate that ambos derives from the Latin root ambo, meaning "both," and has evolved in the Romance languages to its current gendered plural forms. The word is usually used when the speaker wants to emphasize that two items or people are being considered together, rather than individually.

See also: both (English); ambas (feminine form in Spanish and Portuguese).