thirty-five: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Neutral; used in all registers from formal to informal.
Quick answer
What does “thirty-five” mean?
The cardinal number equal to 30 + 5.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The cardinal number equal to 30 + 5.
Used to denote quantity, age, time, position in a sequence, or as an identifier (e.g., house number, bus route).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Potential minor variation in spoken rhythm or stress patterns in longer phrases.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. The number itself carries no specific cultural connotation.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “thirty-five” in a Sentence
[number] of [plural noun] (thirty-five of the applicants)at [number] (at thirty-five, she changed careers)[number] [plural noun] (thirty-five candles)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thirty-five” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- A thirty-five-year lease is standard.
- He caught a thirty-five-pound pike.
American English
- She signed a thirty-five-year mortgage.
- It's a thirty-five-foot boat.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The merger is expected to save the company thirty-five million annually."
Academic
"The sample size was reduced to thirty-five participants for the final analysis."
Everyday
"Let's meet at half past four—no, I mean thirty-five past four."
Technical
"Set the regulator to thirty-five PSI."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thirty-five”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thirty-five”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thirty-five”
- Writing as 'thirty five' (missing hyphen in UK/US adjective form), '35th' for the numeral '35' when ordinal is not needed.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when used as a compound adjective before a noun (e.g., a thirty-five-year-old). When used as a noun or after a noun, the hyphen is often omitted (e.g., She is thirty five. / She is thirty-five.). Style guides vary, but hyphenation in the adjectival form is standard.
Thirty-fifth (35th).
In modern English, 'thirty-five' (with a hyphen) is the standard form for the number 35, especially as a modifier. 'Thirty five' without the hyphen is generally considered incorrect in formal writing, though it may be seen in informal contexts.
No, the number itself is singular. It refers to a single quantity. You say "Thirty-five is a large number" not "Thirty-five are...". However, the noun it quantifies is plural (e.g., thirty-five books are on the shelf).
The cardinal number equal to 30 + 5.
Thirty-five is usually neutral; used in all registers from formal to informal. in register.
Thirty-five: in British English it is pronounced /ˌθɜːti ˈfaɪv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌθɜːrti ˈfaɪv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Thirty-five thousand feet (common cruising altitude for aircraft)”
- “Top of the fifth (baseball reference, 35 being 5th inning)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a clock: 30 minutes is 'half past', plus 5 more minutes gets you to 'thirty-five past' the hour.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS VERTICALITY / MORE IS UP ('The temperature climbed to thirty-five degrees'), TIME IS SPACE ('page thirty-five').
Practice
Quiz
Which is the correct written form when used as an adjective before a noun?