How to pronounce thirteen
Say it like thur-TEEN. Thirteen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce thirteen. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- thur
- TEEN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Thirteen pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- thurGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- TEENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of thirteen
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: thur-TEEN.
What does thirteen mean?
- the cardinal number that is the sum of twelve and one
- being one more than twelve
Where does thirteen come from?
From Middle English thirttene, variant (through metathesis) of thrittene, from Old English þrēotīene, from Proto-Germanic *þritehun, compound of *þrīz (“three”) + *tehun (“teen”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- xiii
Words that rhyme with thirteen
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of thirteen.
Questions about saying thirteen
How do you pronounce thirteen?
Say thur-TEEN. The American pronunciation is /ˌθɝˈtin/. In British English it is /θɜːˈtiːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in thirteen?
Thirteen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEEN). Broken into parts: thur · TEEN.
Is thirteen 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 /θɜːˈtiːn/ (thur-TEEN).