Rule 2 of 6
Easy startThirteen versus thirty
In -teen numbers, stress the last syllable and hold its ii longer, matching the recording. In -ty numbers, stress the first syllable and say the final i short, with a full t.
This works the same way in both styles, and it helps avoid mistakes with prices, dates and quantities.
Stress in -teen and -ty numbers
The stressed syllable is louder, longer and higher. In -teen numbers it is the last one, and its ii is long.
-teen and -ty numbers
| -teen | -ty | Play both |
|---|---|---|
| 13thirteenthəə-tiin | 30thirtythəə-ti | |
| 14fourteenfoo-tiin | 40fortyfoo-ti | |
| 15fifteenfif-tiin | 50fiftyfif-ti | |
| 16sixteensiks-tiin | 60sixtysiks-ti | |
| 17seventeense-vən-tiin | 70seventyse-vən-ti | |
| 18eighteenei-tiin | 80eightyei-ti | |
| 19nineteennain-tiin | 90ninetynain-ti |
Practise twenty with the -ty pattern: twen-ti, with a clear t.
Before a noun, native speakers sometimes move the stress forward ('thəə-tiin days'), so the long ii and the final n are your most reliable signal. Americans may say thirty as thər-di: listen for the long ii and final n to identify thirteen.
The th in three
Three, thirteen and thirty all start with th. Put the tip of your tongue lightly between your teeth and blow air out. If your top teeth touch your lower lip instead, three sounds like free; if your tongue stops the air, it sounds like tree.
| Say th | Not to be confused with | Play both |
|---|---|---|
| three | free | |
| three | tree |
The same th comes in third and thousand, and at the end of fourth and fifth:
- third
- thousand
- fourth
- fifth
Confirm the number
For prices, dates, times and quantities, confirm the number in digits:
- Thirteen, that's one-three.