Category: Engineering

How to pronounce Numbers like 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Etc. (Ordinal Numbers)

1/5/2018

Ordinal numbers (e.g. first, third, fortieth) can present problems when mispronounced. They are often similar pronunciation to numerals (e.g. seventeen/seventeenth, four/fourth) but they have a consonant cluster at the end. Error patterns on consonant clusters (devoicing, omission) will result in a potential misunderstanding of the number. In addition, the final th /θ/ on many ordinal numbers can be difficult to say correctly. Use the written words, IPA symbols and recordings below to practice correct final consonant clusters on ordinal numbers.

Ordinal numbers 1st-10th

first
second
third
fourth
fifth
sixth
seventh
eighth
ninth
tenth

/fɹ st/
/'sɛkənd/
/θɹ d/
/foɹ θ/
/fɪfθ/
/sɪksθ/
/'sɛvənθ/
/eitθ/
/naɪnθ/
/tɛnθ/

More Ordinal numbers with th /θ/

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5/31/2015

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