One syllable: fifths.
fifths
/fɪfθs/
fifths is pronounced fifths (/fɪfθs/). It has one syllable (fifths), with the stress on "fifths". Fifths is the plural of fifth, referring to the position or rank that is one more than a fourth. It also denotes the musical interval spanning seven semitones, or a chord built on the dominant degree. In pronunciation, it ends with an unusual -ths cluster that tests sibilant + fricative articulation.
Fifths is the plural of fifth, referring to the position or rank that is one more than a fourth. It also denotes the musical interval spanning seven semitones, or a chord built on the dominant degree. In pronunciation, it ends with an unusual -ths cluster that tests sibilant + fricative articulation.
"The diagram shows the fifths in a heptatonic scale."
"She landed fifths in the choir’s harmony arrangement."
"In geometry, the fifths of a polygon relate to its vertex divisions."
Pronounce FIFTHS as /ˈfɪfθs/. Start with an unstressed 'fif' as /ˈfɪf/, then the /θ/ sound made with the tongue between the teeth, and end with /s/. Your mouth closes quickly after the /θ/ to release the final /s/. Emphasize the first syllable; the /f/ and /θ/ are both voiceless. Audio example: listen to reputable dictionaries for /ˈfɪfθs/ and imitate the flow.
Common errors include turning the /θ/ into /s/ or /t/ (fricative to stop or sibilant), pronouncing /f/ as a longer /f/ from other positions, and misplacing tongue for /θ/. Correction: keep tongue between teeth with a light breath for /θ/, and snap to /s/ immediately after without voicing. Also avoid adding an extra syllable; the word is single- or two-beat with primary stress on the first syllable.
In US, UK, and AU, the /ˈfɪfθs/ pattern is consistent in core phonemes; the difference lies in the rhoticity and vowel subtlety: US tends to a slightly tenser /ɪ/; UK may have a slightly shorter /ɪ/ and crisper /θ/; AU keeps the same but may blur the boundary between /f/ and /θ/ in rapid speech. Overall, the primary stress remains on the first syllable; devoicing of /θ/ is common in casual speech.
The difficulty stems from the consonant cluster /f-ɪ-f-θ-s/ and the sibilant adjacency /θs/. Speakers must maintain a voiceless dental fricative /θ/ without voicing, followed by a crisp /s/ without assimilation. Coarticulation with the preceding /f/ can cause blending. Additionally, the preceding short vowel /ɪ/ requires precise tongue height and jaw position to avoid over-lengthening or reducing the vowel.
Yes, the sequence /fθ/ is uncommon in many dialects and demands precise tongue placement: place the tongue blade lightly between the upper and lower front teeth for /θ/, while ensuring the preceding /f/ is cleanly released and not followed by a vowel. The combination of two obstruents without an intervening vowel tests rapid articulatory transitions and is a hallmark of this word.
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Fifths derives from Middle English fifth, from Old English fiftþ (fift + th suffix), and shares roots with German fünft (fifth) and Dutch vift, all of which trace to the Proto-Germanic *fimþiz. The term ultimately comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *penk-
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "fifths" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "fifths" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "fifths" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "fifths"
-fts sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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