Meaning

"My two cents" is my opinion, offered in a modest way. Two cents is a tiny amount of money, so you are saying your view is small and the other person is free to ignore it. You "give", "add" or "put in" your two cents. "Just my two cents" at the end of a message is very common online and in email.

It is informal and polite. It softens an opinion, especially one nobody asked for, or one that disagrees with the group. It works in meetings, with friends, and in comments. The modesty is part of the manners, so don't use it to sneak in something harsh; "my two cents: your plan is terrible" still hurts. British speakers sometimes say "my two pennies' worth", but in American English it's cents.

In a conversation

MateoKavya
  1. Mateo
  2. Kavya
  3. Mateo
  4. Kavya
  5. Mateo
  6. Kavya

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

Check yourself

1Why does Kavya say "Can I give my two cents?"
2"Nobody asked for his two cents." What does this suggest?

Practice · 3 min

Listen, then repeat. Stress "two" and "cents" equally, and keep the tone light.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.