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eighth

A1
UK/eɪtθ/US/eɪtθ/ (Note: Often pronounced /eɪθ/ in casual speech, particularly in fractions like 'one eighth')

Neutral to Formal (in numerical/mathematical contexts). Used across all registers for dates, fractions, and sequence.

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Definition

Meaning

The position in a series that comes after seventh and before ninth; one of eight equal parts.

The position, rank, or fraction represented by the number 8 in a sequence; the ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number eight.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Functions primarily as an ordinal adjective or noun. Its usage as a fraction ('one eighth') is extremely common. The ordinal sense is more frequent than the fractional one in general discourse.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant semantic difference. Pronunciation differs subtly (see IPA). Date formatting conventions are different.

Connotations

Identical.

Frequency

Identical. Extremely high frequency in both dialects.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
gradebirthdaynightnotefinalone ~
medium
of Augustfloorplaceinningchapter
weak
persontimepartsectionposition

Grammar

Valency Patterns

[ordinal] + NOUN (the eighth day)a/the/one + eighth + of + NOUN (one eighth of the pie)

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

octave (in music)eighth part (as fraction)

Neutral

8thnext after the seventh

Weak

late (in a vague series)penultimate (only if there are nine total)

Vocabulary

Antonyms

firstlastwhole

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “Behind the eight ball (AmE idiom: in a difficult position)”
  • “on the eighth day (biblical/creative reference)”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Used in reports (e.g., 'our eighth quarter of growth'), market share ('an eighth of the market').

Academic

Common in historical sequencing ('the eighth century'), mathematical fractions, and music theory.

Everyday

Very common for dates ('August the eighth'), birthdays, positions in line, and simple fractions.

Technical

Music: an interval of an octave. Metrology: an eighth of an inch. Racing: the position in a heat.

Examples

By Part of Speech

adverb

British English

  • He arrived eighth in the marathon.
  • She was placed eighth overall.

American English

  • The team finished eighth in the league.
  • I came in eighth in the spelling bee.

adjective

British English

  • His eighth birthday party is next week.
  • She finished in eighth place.

American English

  • The eighth inning is about to start.
  • We live on the eighth floor.

Examples

By CEFR Level

A2
  • My birthday is on the eighth of May.
  • I ate one eighth of the pizza.
  • He is in the eighth grade.
B1
  • The company celebrated its eighth consecutive year of profit.
  • Please turn to the eighth chapter of your textbook.
  • An eighth of the total population was surveyed.
B2
  • The symphony's haunting eighth note motif recurs throughout the final movement.
  • Historians mark the eighth century as a period of significant cultural exchange.
  • She inherited an eighth share of her grandfather's estate.
C1
  • The court's ruling, by a narrow five-to-three margin with one justice recused, hinged on an obscure eighth amendment argument.
  • The poet's use of iambic pentameter is disrupted by a deliberate eighth-syllable caesura in this line.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

"I ate (eight) a huge piece of pie, but only an eighth was left." Connects the sound of 'ate' in 'eight' to the word.

Conceptual Metaphor

SEQUENCE IS POSITION ON A PATH (eighth step, eighth mile). FRACTIONS ARE PARTS OF A WHOLE OBJECT (an eighth of a cake).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Beware of the cluster '-ghth' /θ/. The pronunciation of the final sound is not /t/ or /f/.
  • Do not translate 'the eighth of March' word-for-word from the Russian genitive structure; use 'March the eighth' or 'the eighth of March'.
  • In fractions, remember the structure is 'one eighth', not 'one eight' or 'one of eight'.

Common Mistakes

  • Spelling: 'eight' + 'h' (eigth).
  • Pronunciation: Omitting the /θ/ sound, saying /eɪt/.
  • Article use with fractions: Saying 'a eighth' instead of 'an eighth' (due to vowel sound).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
Cut the apple into eight equal pieces. Each piece is called an .
Multiple Choice

Which is the correct pronunciation of the fractional form 'an eighth' in careful speech?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Always 'an eighth' because the word begins with a vowel sound (/eɪ/).

'Eight' is the cardinal number (8). 'Eighth' is the ordinal number (8th) or the fraction (1/8).

It comes from the Old English root 'eahta' (eight) plus the ordinal suffix '-tha'. The 'gh' is a historical spelling that became silent, and the 'th' is the pronounced suffix.

As 1/8 or, less commonly, ⅛.