thirty-nine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral
Quick answer
What does “thirty-nine” mean?
The cardinal number equivalent to 39, one more than thirty-eight and one less than forty.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The cardinal number equivalent to 39, one more than thirty-eight and one less than forty.
Used to denote age, quantity, or in specific contexts such as cultural references (e.g., 'The Thirty-Nine Steps'), measurements, or rankings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal; both use 'thirty-nine' identically in writing. In speech, British English may occasionally insert 'and' in numbers above 100, but not for 'thirty-nine'. American English pronounces the 'r' in 'thirty' more prominently.
Connotations
None specific to either variant.
Frequency
Equally common in both British and American English across all contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “thirty-nine” in a Sentence
thirty-nine + noun (e.g., thirty-nine students)at thirty-nine (e.g., at age thirty-nine)thirty-nine of + noun (e.g., thirty-nine of them)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thirty-nine” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- He finished thirty-nine seconds later.
- The price was reduced by thirty-nine pounds.
American English
- She drove thirty-nine miles further.
- The stock fell thirty-nine points today.
adjective
British English
- She has thirty-nine cousins in her family.
- The recipe requires thirty-nine grams of sugar.
American English
- He owns thirty-nine pairs of sneakers.
- The report lists thirty-nine key findings.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in financial contexts, e.g., 'thirty-nine percent profit margin' or 'thirty-nine units sold'.
Academic
Employed in research data, e.g., 'thirty-nine samples were analyzed' or 'page thirty-nine of the textbook'.
Everyday
Common in personal references, e.g., 'I am thirty-nine years old' or 'there are thirty-nine days left'.
Technical
In scientific or mathematical contexts, e.g., 'a temperature of thirty-nine degrees Celsius' or 'angle measuring thirty-nine degrees'.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thirty-nine”
- Misspelling as 'thirty nine' without hyphen.
- Mispronouncing 'thirty' as 'thirteen' or vice versa.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in standard English, compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine are hyphenated when written out.
In British English, it is typically pronounced as /ˈθɜːti naɪn/, with a non-rhotic 'r' in 'thirty'.
Yes, 'thirty-nine' can function as a noun, e.g., 'Thirty-nine is a prime number' or 'She wrote the number thirty-nine'.
It originates from the 1915 novel by John Buchan, which features a plot involving thirty-nine steps, and has since become a cultural reference in film and literature.
The cardinal number equivalent to 39, one more than thirty-eight and one less than forty.
Thirty-nine is usually neutral in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The Thirty-Nine Steps”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Break it down: 'thirty' (30) plus 'nine' (9) equals 39, similar to how 30 + 9 = 39.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often symbolizes a point just before a milestone, such as the transition to forty in age or quantity.
Practice
Quiz
Which IPA transcription is correct for 'thirty-nine' in American English?