twelfth
B1Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
Constituting number twelve in a sequence; the ordinal number corresponding to twelve.
One of twelve equal parts of something; often used in music to denote a particular interval or position.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an ordinal number, but can function as a noun (meaning 'one twelfth') or as an adjective.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The pronunciation of 'f' and 'th' is a common point of variation. The spelling and core meaning are identical.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
ordinal + noun (e.g., the twelfth person)the + twelfth + of + month (e.g., the twelfth of May)a + twelfth + of + whole (e.g., a twelfth of the pie)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Twelfth Night”
- “the twelfth man”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in scheduling and ordering (e.g., the twelfth quarterly report).
Academic
Used in historical dating, fractions, and sequential analysis.
Everyday
Used for dates, positions in queues, and birthdays.
Technical
Used in music theory (e.g., a twelfth interval) and mathematics (fractions).
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- His twelfth birthday party is next week.
- We are studying the twelfth chapter.
American English
- Her twelfth attempt was finally successful.
- The store is on Twelfth Street.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My birthday is on the twelfth of July.
- She is twelfth in the line.
- He finished twelfth in the marathon, which was a good result.
- Please turn to the twelfth page.
- Approximately one twelfth of the population attended the event.
- The manuscript dates from the late twelfth century.
- The jury's decision was split, with a twelfth of them still holding out for acquittal.
- The piece requires the violinist to play a perfect twelfth.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'twelve' and just add 'th'. Be careful: it's 'twelfTH' (with two 'f's' and a 'th'), not 'twelveth'.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSITION AS A NUMBER IN A SERIES (e.g., 'He finished in twelfth place' maps competition to a linear sequence).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating the structure 'the twelfth of May' as 'двенадцатый мая'; the correct Russian genitive structure is 'двенадцатое мая'.
- The pronunciation of the cluster 'lfθ' is challenging and often simplified incorrectly.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'twelveth' or 'twelth'.
- Mispronouncing by dropping the /f/ sound, saying /twɛlθ/.
- Incorrect plural for the noun form: 'twelfths' (not 'twelths').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the correct spelling?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It contains a difficult consonant cluster /lfθ/, where the tongue must move quickly from an /l/ to an /f/ and then to the voiceless /θ/.
Yes, '12th' is the standard numeric abbreviation and is perfectly acceptable in most informal and many formal contexts (like dates).
'Twelfth' itself can be a noun meaning one of twelve equal parts (e.g., 'She inherited a twelfth of the estate'). The plural is 'twelfths'.
It is a festival marking the coming of Epiphany (January 5th) and the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas. It is also the title of a famous play by Shakespeare.