word
German
Doppelgänger
/ˈdɒpəlɡæŋər/
lit. “double-goer”
A look-alike — originally a ghostly double, now any uncanny twin.
Origin
Coined by the German Romantic novelist Jean Paul in 1796. In folklore, seeing your own doppelgänger was an omen of death. Modern horror, sci-fi, and pop culture have leaned on the trope ever since.
Modern usage
Casually used for any striking look-alike — celebrity doppelgängers, coworkers' twins, AI face matches. The ominous folklore meaning survives in horror writing.
Tags
double
uncanny