How to pronounce third
Say it like THURD. Third is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- THURD
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Third pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- THURDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of third
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: THURD.
What does third mean?
- The ordinal form of the cardinal number three; Coming after the second.“The third tree from the left is my favorite.”
- The person or thing in the third position.“Jones came in third.”
- One of three equal parts of a whole.“He ate a third of the pie. Divided by two-thirds.”
- An interval consisting of the first and third notes in a scale.“They sing in thirds.”
- To agree with a proposition or statement after it has already been seconded.
- To divide into three equal parts.
Where does third come from?
From Middle English thirde, thridde, from Old English þridda, from Proto-Germanic *þridjô, from Pre-Germanic *tretyós, a remodeling of Proto-Indo-European *tr̥tyós.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with third
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of third.
Questions about saying third
How do you pronounce third?
Say THURD. The American pronunciation is /θɝd/. In British English it is /θɜːd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in third?
Third is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: THURD.
Is third 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 /θɜːd/ (THURD).