thirty-eight: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral
Quick answer
What does “thirty-eight” mean?
The cardinal number equivalent to the sum of thirty and eight, representing the quantity 38.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The cardinal number equivalent to the sum of thirty and eight, representing the quantity 38.
Used metaphorically to denote age, measurement (e.g., temperature or caliber in firearms), or specific quantities in various contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Pronunciation differs slightly with the rhotic 'r' in American English; spelling and usage are identical.
Connotations
None significant; both dialects use it interchangeably for the same numerical value.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both British and American English across all contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “thirty-eight” in a Sentence
[number] + noun (e.g., thirty-eight books)be + [number] (e.g., She is thirty-eight.)have + [number] + of something (e.g., He has thirty-eight of them.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thirty-eight” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She purchased a thirty-eight litre fuel tank for the car.
American English
- He owns a thirty-eight gallon aquarium in his living room.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports for quantities or metrics, e.g., 'The project completed thirty-eight tasks ahead of schedule.'
Academic
Employed in data analysis or research, e.g., 'The experiment included thirty-eight control groups.'
Everyday
Common for describing age, temperature, or counts, e.g., 'It's thirty-eight degrees outside today.'
Technical
Applied in fields like engineering or medicine, e.g., 'The device operates at thirty-eight hertz.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thirty-eight”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thirty-eight”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thirty-eight”
- Writing as 'thirty eight' without a hyphen, though both forms are accepted but hyphenated is standard for cardinal numbers.
- Mispronouncing 'thirty' as 'tirty' or 'firty'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when written as a word for cardinal numbers, it is standard to hyphenate as 'thirty-eight', though the unhyphenated form is sometimes accepted in informal contexts.
In British English, 'thirty' is pronounced without the rhotic 'r' (/ˈθɜːti/), while in American English, it includes the rhotic 'r' (/ˈθɜːrti/); 'eight' is /eɪt/ in both.
Yes, 'thirty-eight' is appropriate in formal writing, such as academic papers or business reports, when spelling out numbers for clarity or style.
Idiomatically, 'thirty-eight' can refer to a .38 caliber firearm (e.g., 'thirty-eight special') or in sports to denote a score (e.g., 'hit thirty-eight points').
The cardinal number equivalent to the sum of thirty and eight, representing the quantity 38.
Thirty-eight: in British English it is pronounced /ˈθɜːti eɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈθɜːrti eɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “thirty-eight special”
- “hit thirty-eight”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Associate 'thirty' (30) with 'eight' (8) to recall it sums to 38; think of a clock showing 3:38.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often symbolizes a threshold of maturity or precision, e.g., 'thirty-eight' as an age of wisdom or a specific measurement standard.
Practice
Quiz
Which IPA transcription is correct for 'thirty-eight' in British English?