three
A1Universal across all registers from formal to informal.
Definition
Meaning
the cardinal number equivalent to the sum of one and two.
can represent a small group, a quantity, a position in a sequence, or serve as a symbolic or cultural reference (e.g., 'the rule of three' in writing, the Holy Trinity).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a numeral determiner or noun. Its meaning is stable and concrete, though it can be used metaphorically (e.g., 'three's a crowd').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Pronunciation differs slightly.
Connotations
Identical connotations of a small, complete set (beginning, middle, end; past, present, future).
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
NUM + N (three books)be + NUM (The answer is three)at + NUM (at three o'clock)NUM + of + N (three of them)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Three's a crowd”
- “Third time's the charm”
- “Good things come in threes”
- “On all three (in cricket)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in metrics, timeframes, and grouping (e.g., 'Q3', 'three-year plan').
Academic
Used in statistical data, tripartite theories, and sequencing.
Everyday
Ubiquitous for counting, telling time, and describing small quantities.
Technical
Used in mathematics, computing (e.g., 'three-tier architecture'), and engineering.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- She has a three-bedroom house.
- It was a three-part documentary.
American English
- He drives a three-door coupe.
- We sat in the three-legged chair.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have three apples.
- My son is three years old.
- The meeting starts at three.
- Divide the dough into three equal parts.
- They scored three goals in the first half.
- I've read the first three chapters.
- The proposal was rejected for three principal reasons.
- The system operates on a three-phase cycle.
- After three attempts, she finally passed the test.
- The theory rests upon three interrelated pillars: economic, social, and political.
- His argument proceeded in three distinct stages, each building upon the last.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
The word 'three' has three 'h's' in a row if you look at its spelling: t-h-r-e-e.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPLETENESS IS THREE (e.g., 'beginning, middle, end' forms a complete story).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Pronunciation: The initial 'th' /θ/ sound does not exist in Russian and is often mispronounced as /s/, /z/, /f/, or /t/.
- No confusion with 'tree' if pronunciation is clear.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing 'th' /θ/ as /tɹiː/ ('tree').
- Misspelling as 'thre' or 'tree'.
- Confusing ordinal 'third' with cardinal 'three'.
Practice
Quiz
In the idiom 'three's a crowd', what does 'three' typically represent?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When used as a determiner before a plural noun, the noun is plural (e.g., three cats). When used as a noun itself, it is singular (e.g., Three is my favourite number).
'Three' is a cardinal number used for counting (1, 2, 3). 'Third' is an ordinal number used for sequencing (1st, 2nd, 3rd).
Place the tip of your tongue gently between your teeth and blow air out without using your voice. It is the voiceless dental fricative sound /θ/.
Learners sometimes confuse it with 'tree' due to pronunciation issues, or misspell it as 'thre' by dropping the final 'e'.
Collections
Part of a collection
Numbers and Time
A1 · 50 words · Numbers, dates, days and expressions of time.