From the Aramaic word תאומא (Tʾōmāʾ) through ancient Syriac ܬܐܘܿܡܵܐ (Tʾōmāʾ), both of which mean "twin," the name Thomas means "twin." The equivalent term in Hellenistic Greek is Δίδυμος (Didymos), which explains why John 11:16 reads: "Thomas, who was called 'the Twin' (Didymos) said to his fellow disciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with him'." (cf. John 20:24)