triskaidekaphobia
LowFormal, Technical
Definition
Meaning
Fear of the number thirteen.
An intense, often irrational superstition or fear regarding the number thirteen, particularly when it appears in dates (e.g., Friday the 13th) or in sequences.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a specialized, learned term. It is used more to name the condition than to describe a common emotional state. Related concepts include 'paraskevidekatriaphobia' (fear of Friday the 13th).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral, clinical, diagnostic.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both regions, confined to discussions of superstition, psychology, or popular culture.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] has/suffers from triskaidekaphobia.Triskaidekaphobia is a [adjective] condition.The word 'triskaidekaphobia' describes...Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Fearful of Friday the thirteenth”
- “Unlucky thirteen”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be mentioned in context of office superstitions or skipping floor 13 in building numbering.
Academic
Used in psychology, cultural studies, or linguistics papers discussing phobias or numerical superstitions.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation. People would say 'I'm scared of the number 13' or 'I'm superstitious about 13'.
Technical
Used as a specific diagnostic or descriptive term in clinical psychology and psychiatry.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He seems to triskaidekaphobise about any date containing a thirteen.
- The architect was careful not to triskaidekaphobise the residents.
American English
- She triskaidekaphobizes every time a month has a Friday the 13th.
- The company triskaidekaphobized and labeled the floor '14A'.
adverb
British English
- He reacted triskaidekaphobically to the news of the party date.
- She glanced triskaidekaphobically at the calendar.
American English
- He refused, triskaidekaphobically, to take seat number thirteen.
- She scheduled the meeting triskaidekaphobically, ensuring it was on the 12th or 14th.
adjective
British English
- His triskaidekaphobic tendencies meant he would never live on the thirteenth floor.
- The triskaidekaphobic patient avoided all dates with the number.
American English
- She had a triskaidekaphobic reaction to the hotel room number.
- The building's design was influenced by triskaidekaphobic beliefs.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Some people do not like the number thirteen.
- Friday the thirteenth is an unlucky day for them.
- He has triskaidekaphobia, so he is very afraid of the number thirteen.
- Because of her triskaidekaphobia, she never stays on a hotel's thirteenth floor.
- Triskaidekaphobia, though not a common clinical diagnosis, influences architecture, with many buildings omitting a thirteenth floor.
- Her triskaidekaphobia was so intense she would reschedule important events falling on the thirteenth.
- Despite its Greco-Latinate construction, 'triskaidekaphobia' is a modern coinage that encapsulates a centuries-old superstition within a clinical framework.
- Anthropologists study triskaidekaphobia not merely as an individual pathology but as a socially transmitted memetic complex.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'TRIS' (three), 'KAI' (and, Greek), 'DEKA' (ten, Greek), 'PHOBIA' (fear) = fear of three-and-ten (13).
Conceptual Metaphor
A NUMBER IS A DANGEROUS OBJECT / SUPERSTITION IS A DISEASE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating the components. The Russian equivalent is "трискайдекафобия" (triskaidekafobiya), which is a direct borrowing and equally technical.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'triskaidecaphobia', 'triskadekaphobia'.
- Incorrect plural: 'triskaidekaphobias' (usually uncountable).
- Mispronunciation: stressing the wrong syllable (e.g., trisKAIdekaphobia).
Practice
Quiz
What is the etymological meaning of 'triskaidekaphobia'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency, technical term. In everyday speech, people simply say 'fear of the number 13'.
Triskaidekaphobia is the general fear of the number 13. Paraskevidekatriaphobia is the more specific fear of Friday the 13th.
It can be classified as a specific phobia under diagnostic manuals if the fear is excessive, persistent, and causes significant distress or impairment. For most, it's a superstition.
In British English: /ˌtrɪskaɪˌdɛkəˈfəʊbiə/ (tris-ky-dek-uh-FOH-bee-uh). In American English: /ˌtrɪskaɪˌdɛkəˈfoʊbiə/ (tris-ky-dek-uh-FOH-bee-uh). The primary stress is on '-phoh-', secondary stress on 'tris-'.