How to pronounce fortieth
Say it like FOR-tee-uth. Fortieth has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce fortieth. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FOR
- tee
- uth
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fortieth pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- uthKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of fortieth
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FAW-tee-uth.
What does fortieth mean?
- The person or thing in the fortieth position.
- One of forty equal parts of a whole.
- The ordinal form of the number forty.
Where does fortieth come from?
From earlier fourteth, from Middle English fourtithe, fourtiþe; equivalent to forty + -eth.
Questions about saying fortieth
How do you pronounce fortieth?
Say FOR-tee-uth. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɔrtiəθ/. In British English it is /ˈfɔːtiəθ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fortieth?
Fortieth has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOR). Broken into parts: FOR · tee · uth.
Is fortieth pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈfɔːtiəθ/ (FAW-tee-uth).