What is the difference between among and between?

Use between for two separate people or things, and among for a group or crowd where the members aren't seen one by one. Between has "tw" in it, like two. Among goes with a mass or crowd.

Among vs Between: What's the Difference?

Among vs Between at a glance

among
/əˈmʌŋ/ · preposition
In or part of a group of three or more people or things that are not seen separately.
- The village is hidden among the hills.
- This app is popular among teenagers.
“among” in the vocabulary guide
between
/bɪˈtwiːn/ · preposition
In the space or relationship connecting two (or more) clearly separate things.
- The café is between the bank and the pharmacy.
- What's the difference between these two phones?
“between” in the vocabulary guide

How to remember it

Between has "tw" in it, like two. Among goes with a mass or crowd.

Good to know

Between can also be used with more than two when each item is separate and clearly named: "a treaty between France, Spain and Italy". "Amongst" means the same as among and is a bit more formal or old-fashioned in British English.

Common mistakes

Wrong: She sat among her mother and her father.
Right: She sat between her mother and her father.
Wrong: He felt at home between his friends.
Right: He felt at home among his friends.

Quick quiz

1.Please don't eat meals.
2.I found my old photos some papers in the drawer.
3.The match Spain and Brazil starts at eight.

Pick the right word for each gap.