thirty-three: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral
Quick answer
What does “thirty-three” mean?
The cardinal number equivalent to three plus thirty, represented as 33.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The cardinal number equivalent to three plus thirty, represented as 33.
Often used as a nominal identifier (age, number, quantity, year) or in cultural references (e.g., rpm records, sports jersey numbers).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No differences in meaning or usage. Hyphenation is standard for compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine in both varieties.
Connotations
None specific to either variety.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “thirty-three” in a Sentence
[Cardinal Number] + [Noun] (e.g., thirty-three students)[Preposition] + thirty-three (e.g., at thirty-three)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thirty-three” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She bought a thirty-three gram bag of coffee.
- He lives in a thirty-third-floor flat.
American English
- She bought a thirty-three gram bag of coffee.
- He lives on the thirty-third floor.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in quantitative reports, e.g., 'Thirty-three new units were sold.'
Academic
Used in statistical data, pagination, and chronological references.
Everyday
Commonly used to state age, quantities, or identifiers (e.g., house number, bus route).
Technical
Can refer to a specific type (e.g., 33 rpm record speed) or code.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thirty-three”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thirty-three”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thirty-three”
- Writing as 'thirty three' (without hyphen).
- Incorrect stress in speech: placing equal stress on both parts instead of the primary stress on the first syllable of the second part: THIR-ty-THREE.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, all compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine are hyphenated in standard written English.
No, 'thirty-three' is exclusively a cardinal number, functioning as a noun or attributive adjective.
In both British and American English, the primary stress is typically on the second element: 'THIR-ty-THREE'.
Yes, the ordinal form is 'thirty-third' (33rd). It is also hyphenated.
The cardinal number equivalent to three plus thirty, represented as 33.
Thirty-three is usually neutral in register.
Thirty-three: in British English it is pronounced /ˌθɜːti ˈθriː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌθɜːrt̬i ˈθriː/ or /ˈθɝːt̬i ˌθriː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of two '3's standing side by side, like a pair of twins. Thirty is 3 tens, and three is 3 ones. Together, they make double three.
Conceptual Metaphor
NUMBERS ARE OBJECTS (that can be counted, listed, and manipulated).
Practice
Quiz
How is the number 33 correctly written in words?