kaksikute

Kaksikute is the genitive plural form of kaksikud, the Estonian noun meaning "twins." It is used to indicate possession or association with twins, for example kaksikute vanemad (the parents of the twins) or kaksikute arv (the number of twins). The nominative plural is kaksikud; the genitive plural is kaksikute, and other forms follow standard Estonian declension patterns.

Twins are two offspring born from the same pregnancy. They can arise in two main ways: monozygotic, when a single fertilized egg splits to form two individuals, typically genetically identical; and dizygotic, when two separate eggs are fertilized, resulting in two genetically distinct siblings who may look alike or different. The frequency of twins varies by population and maternal factors. Overall about 1-2 percent of pregnancies result in twins. Monozygotic twinning is relatively constant worldwide at about 0.3-0.5 percent of births, whereas dizygotic twinning rates vary more widely, being higher in some populations and lower in others. Factors include maternal age, parity, genetics, ethnicity, and the use of assisted reproductive technologies.

In culture and language, twin-related terms appear in many languages and may carry symbolic meanings, such as partnerships, duality, or fate. Estonia’s language uses kaksikute in standard grammatical contexts, just as many other languages use their own genitive forms to express possession or association with twins.