sixteenth: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral
Quick answer
What does “sixteenth” mean?
Constituting number sixteen in a sequence.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Constituting number sixteen in a sequence; 16th.
A fraction equal to one part of something divided into sixteen equal parts (1/16). The position, item, or person after the fifteenth.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In music: UK 'semiquaver'; US 'sixteenth note'.
Connotations
Identical for ordinal/fractional use.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “sixteenth” in a Sentence
the + sixteenth + nouna + sixteenth + of + nounordinal + position (e.g., She finished sixteenth.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sixteenth” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- He finished sixteenth in the London Marathon.
American English
- She ranked sixteenth nationally.
adjective
British English
- She celebrated her sixteenth birthday.
American English
- He lives on the sixteenth floor.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, e.g., 'Q1 sixteenth fiscal period' (in a 16-period year).
Academic
Common in history ('the sixteenth century'), mathematics (fractions), music theory.
Everyday
Birthdays, anniversaries, positions in queues/races.
Technical
Precise fractional measurement (e.g., 'sixteenth of an inch').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sixteenth”
- Pronouncing it as 'sixteen' (omitting the /θ/).
- Writing '16th' but saying 'sixteen'.
- Incorrect stress: /ˈsɪkstiːnθ/ instead of /ˌsɪksˈtiːnθ/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both: adjective (the sixteenth day) and noun (a sixteenth of the pie).
As the voiceless dental fricative /θ/, like in 'think' or 'bath'.
'Sixteen' is the cardinal number (16). 'Sixteenth' is the ordinal number (16th) or a fraction (1/16).
Both are correct. 'The sixteenth of May' is more common in UK English; 'May sixteenth' is standard in US English.
Constituting number sixteen in a sequence.
Sixteenth is usually neutral in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sweet sixteen”
- “Sixteenth man (rugby)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SIX-TEEN-TH: Think 'SIX' plus 'TEEN' (like thirteen), then add '-TH' for order.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SMALL FRACTION (a sixteenth is a small part; metaphor for insignificance).
Practice
Quiz
In US music terminology, a 'sixteenth' is a type of: