paare

Paare is the plural form of the German noun Paar. It refers to two things regarded as a unit or to two people who form a couple. The meaning is context dependent: it can describe a literal pair, such as two matching items, or a social relationship between two individuals. The singular form is Paar; the plural Paare is used for multiple such units or couples.

In linguistic and mathematical contexts the term has additional senses. In mathematics, a Paar denotes an ordered pair, typically written as (a, b). When the order of elements matters, it is called ein geordnetes Paar; when it does not, the term is often described as an ungeordnetes Paar or simply as a two-element structure. In everyday language, Paare can occur with concrete objects (zwei Paare Socken) or abstract concepts (Paare von Zahlen in a set).

Grammar and usage notes: ein Paar (capital P) refers to one unit or couple, as in ein Paar Schuhe. The phrase ein paar (lowercase) means “a few” or “some,” and is not capitalized when used as a determiner. Paare as plural is common in contexts ranging from shopping and fashion to mathematics and linguistics.

Etymology and scope: the noun Paar comes from older Germanic origins and has cognates in related languages. In standard German, Paare functions as the plural for both physical pairs and social couples, while the exact interpretation depends on context and accompanying modifiers.