ninety-sixth
Low-mediumFormal and Neutral
Definition
Meaning
the ordinal number corresponding to ninety-six; 96th in sequence.
Used to denote position in a series, a fraction (1/96), or a subdivision (e.g., ninety-sixth note in music).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily ordinal; can be nominalized ("the ninety-sixth"). Compound number formation follows the standard pattern for English ordinals.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Hyphenation standard in both varieties. Possible minor pronunciation variation in stress or vowel length.
Connotations
Neutral, purely numerical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both, tied to specific enumerative contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[the] ninety-sixth + [singular noun] (e.g., the ninety-sixth floor)be + [ordinal] (e.g., He was ninety-sixth in line.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “ninety-sixth time lucky (rare, patterned on 'third time lucky')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in numbered reports or fiscal periods (e.g., 'ninety-sixth quarterly report').
Academic
Used in historical sequencing, list numbering, or mathematical fractions.
Everyday
Most common for birthdays/anniversaries or describing queue position.
Technical
In music: a 'ninety-sixth note' (hemidemisemihemidemisemiquaver) is an extremely short note value.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- He celebrated his ninety-sixth birthday with a quiet party at home.
- They live on the ninety-sixth floor of the new skyscraper.
American English
- She placed ninety-sixth in the national spelling bee.
- This is the ninety-sixth edition of the annual festival.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandfather is ninety-six years old. Next week is his ninety-sixth birthday.
- I was ninety-sixth in the queue for tickets.
- The ninety-sixth contestant was the last to perform in the audition.
- Her office is on the ninety-sixth floor, offering spectacular views.
- The treaty was signed during the ninety-sixth session of the council, marking a historic turning point.
- He inherited a ninety-sixth share of the ancestral estate, a minuscule fraction.
- The composer employed a rapid succession of ninety-sixth notes to create a shimmering, ethereal texture in the finale.
- As the ninety-sixth signatory to the accord, the nation's commitment was symbolic but diplomatically significant.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Nine' (90) and 'six' (6) combined with 'th' – just like 'sixth', but with 'ninety' in front.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEQUENCE IS POSITION ON A PATH (e.g., 'She finished ninety-sixth in the marathon').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Direct calque 'девяносто шестой' is correct, but ensure noun agreement (девяносто шестой этаж).
- Avoid using cardinal number (девяносто шесть) where ordinal is required.
Common Mistakes
- Writing as 'ninty-sixth' (misspelling 'ninety').
- Omitting the hyphen ('ninety sixth').
- Incorrect pronunciation of the cluster /ksθ/ in 'sixth'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'ninety-sixth' most idiomatically used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when used as an ordinal adjective (the ninety-sixth day) or noun (the ninety-sixth). The hyphen is standard in compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine.
Pronounce it as /ˈsɪksθ/, a challenging cluster. Practice saying 'six' and then add a soft 'th' sound without a vowel break: 'siks-th'.
Yes, when it stands for a person or item in that position (e.g., 'She was the ninety-sixth to arrive') or for the fraction 1/96.
'Ninety-six' is a cardinal number (quantity). 'Ninety-sixth' is an ordinal number (position in a sequence). Compare 'ninety-six pages' (how many) vs 'page ninety-six' (which one).