2 syllables: eigh, teenth. Stress on eigh.
/ˈeɪtiːnθ/
Say it backEighteenth is the ordinal form of the number eighteen, used to denote the position after the seventeenth in sequences, lists, or rankings. It functions as an adjective or noun in contexts like dates, fractions, or enumerated items, typically forming phrases such as the eighteenth century or the eighteenth page. The pronunciation is a two-part sequence: the long vowel in 'eight' followed by the 'teenth' suffix, with primary stress on the first syllable.
"She was born in the eighteenth century, a time of rapid change."
"Turn to the eighteenth page to read the table of contents."
"The eighteenth item on the list is the one we chose to discuss."
Break it into two parts: /ˈeɪˌtiːnθ/ or more precisely /ˈeɪt.iːnθ/ depending on dialect. The first syllable carries primary stress; the sequence is 'eight' + 'eenth.' The final cluster is /nθ/, where the tongue touches the upper teeth for the /θ/ sound, not a simple /t/ followed by an /h/. Start with a long /eɪ/ (as in eight), then glide into a light /t/ plus a clear /iː/ before the /nθ/ ending. You’ll hear a slight linking of the /ɪ/ or /iː/ before the final th-sound in careful speech.
Common mispronunciations include: (1) merging /θ/ into /t/ or /s/, leading to 'eighteenth' with a dental fricative mispronounced; (2) misplacing stress, saying 'eighTEENTH' with stress on the second syllable; (3) shortening the final /θ/ to /f/ or /t/ sound. Correct by ensuring the suffix starts with /θ/, place the primary stress on the first syllable, and end with the unvoiced dental fricative /θ/ after a light /n/. Practice by isolating /nθ/ as a single articulatory gesture: tip of tongue to the upper teeth, a brief release for /θ/.
In US English, the /eɪ/ in the first syllable is typically longer and the /θ/ is a clearer dental fricative; some speakers may briefly voice the /θ/ before articulating the /n/. UK speakers often maintain crisper /θ/ with slightly tighter teeth positioning and sometimes more clipped vowels in rapid speech. Australian English tends to be non-rhotic with vowel quality that can reduce the middle 'ee' sound toward /iː/ and a slightly softer /θ/. In all, the primary stress remains on the first syllable, but the timing of the /θ/ and vowel length vary by dialect.
The difficulty comes from the final /θ/ cluster after a nasal /n/, which requires precise tongue placement behind the upper teeth. The long /eɪ/ on the first syllable can contrast with a subtler following vowel, creating a potential glide mismatch. Additionally, lining up the stress and keeping the suffix distinct from the root word 'eighteen' demands careful timing. Practicing the sequence /ˈeɪ.tiːnθ/ with slow tempo and clear dental friction helps solidify the sound.
The word uniquely pairs the long vowel from 'eight' with the -teenth suffix, creating a longer vowel onset followed by a difficult dental fricative. The exact articulation of /θ/ after an /n/ is the hallmark challenge—do not skip the dental contact. Also, note that some speakers will voice the /θ/ slightly as /ð/ in rapid speech, which can mark a regional accent; aim for the pure voiceless /θ/ for clarity.
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Eighteenth descends from Middle English eighte, from Old English eahta (eight) plus the suffix -enth used to form ordinal numbers in English, derived from the Proto-Germanic *ahta- and ultimately the Proto-Indo-European root *oig- meaning 'eye, egg' but through numerals as eight. The ordinal construction in English historically formed by adding -nth or -th to the cardinal form, yielding eighteenth as eight + -eenth. The suffix -teenth itself originates from the Old English -tenþ, blending with -teen to indicate ordinal position for tens and dependent on the base numeral. The word has remained relatively stable in spelling and pronunciation, with the primary stress consistently on the first syllable in modern English. First known written attestations appear in Middle English texts, aligning with the period when ordinal suffixes gained regular usage in counting and dating contexts.
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Words that rhyme with "eighteenth"
-ath sounds
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