How to pronounce thirteenth
Say it like thur-TEENTH. Thirteenth has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEENTH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce thirteenth. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- thur
- TEENTH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Thirteenth 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.
- TEENTHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of thirteenth
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: thur-TEENTH.
What does thirteenth mean?
- The ordinal form of the number thirteen.
- The person or thing in the thirteenth position.
- One of thirteen equal parts of a whole.
- The interval comprising an octave and a sixth.
Where does thirteenth come from?
Inherited from Middle English thrittenthe, thrittethe, from Old English þrēottēoþa; equivalent to thirteen + -th (ordinal suffix).
Words that rhyme with thirteenth
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of thirteenth.
Questions about saying thirteenth
How do you pronounce thirteenth?
Say thur-TEENTH. The American pronunciation is /ˌθɝˈtinθ/. In British English it is /θɜːˈtiːnθ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in thirteenth?
Thirteenth has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEENTH). Broken into parts: thur · TEENTH.
Is thirteenth 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 /θɜːˈtiːnθ/ (thur-TEENTH).