How well can you pronounce “ordinal numbers” in English such as FOURTH, FIFTH and SIXTH? These are some of the most difficult to pronounce words in English because that “TH” sound is particularly troublesome for a lot of people. In this podcast, Jay will teach you how to pronounce each of the various sounds from “first” to “thirteenth” giving you lots of opportunities to practice and refine the way you say these words and pronounce English words in general.”
Podcast transcript:
Hello and welcome back to another episode of Everyday English with E2, my name is Jay. Each week we focus on a different part of the English language including grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary and spelling – building your English as you listen.
This week we’re focusing on a very difficult part of English pronunciation and that is the ordinal numbers – words like fourth, fifth, sixth, tenth and twelfth. These words are really hard to pronounce – even for native English speakers who have been hearing them and saying them their whole life. In fact, as far as I’m concerned sixth is one of the most difficult to pronounce words in English.
So, I hope you’re ready to practice! And just before we get going and start saying this impossible to say words, I want to learn you know about our amazing pronunciation course on E2 English. This course is perfect if you want to improve your pronunciation. It takes you through all of the various sounds of English including the crazy consonant clusters that we’ll look at today. You can find it at www.e2english.com
Okay, so let’s get started with the first ordinal number of English first – please say it with me:
FIRST 1, 2, 3
FIRST 1, 2, 3
FIRST 1, 2, 3
That’s not too hard, is it? F IR ST there are really three sounds there – the F sound, the IR sound and the ST sound.
What about second? Repeat after me:
SECOND 1, 2, 3
SECOND 1, 2, 3
SECOND 1, 2, 3
Again, not too challenging, right? How did you go? Were you able to pronounce those sounds? SE COND – two main parts to this word.
Alright, this one is a bit tricker… ready? Repeat after me:
THIRD 1, 2, 3
THIRD 1, 2, 3
THIRD 1, 2, 3
The TH sound in English is difficult for a lot of speakers. You have to poke out your tongue and put your top teeth on top of your tongue and blow out air making this sound: TTTHHHHHH Can you make that sound?
Alright, next one: Repeat after me:
FOURTH 1, 2, 3
FOURTH 1, 2, 3
FOURTH 1, 2, 3
Here we have the TH sound but at the end of the word. So we had THird with the TH sound at the start of the word and now we have it at the end of the word: fourTH.
Try again: Repeat after me:
FOURTH 1, 2, 3
FOURTH 1, 2, 3
FOURTH 1, 2, 3
Alright… next one. It’s getting harder now! Repeat after me:
FIFTH 1, 2, 3
FIFTH 1, 2, 3
FIFTH 1, 2, 3
Wow. This one is really tough. FI FTH – that second sound FTH almost sounds like you’re trying to get a piece of food off your tongue or even spitting!
Let’s try it again because it’s tough: Repeat after me:
FIFTH 1, 2, 3
FIFTH 1, 2, 3
FIFTH 1, 2, 3
And… ready? This is probably the most difficult pronunciation in English. It’s crazy. Repeat after me:
SIXTH 1, 2, 3
SIXTH 1, 2, 3
SIXTH 1, 2, 3
Whoa… is that even possible? XTH. What is that sound?! That’s completely bonkers. Let’s try it again. Repeat after me:
SIXTH 1, 2, 3
SIXTH 1, 2, 3
SIXTH 1, 2, 3
Alright… This one’s a little easier: Repeat after me:
SEVENTH 1, 2, 3
SEVENTH 1, 2, 3
SEVENTH 1, 2, 3
And this one?
EIGHTH 1, 2, 3
EIGHTH 1, 2, 3
EIGHTH 1, 2, 3
Next one – it’s a bit tricky: Repeat after me:
NINTH 1, 2, 3
NINTH 1, 2, 3
NINTH 1, 2, 3
And this one is challenging. Repeat after me:
TENTH 1, 2, 3
TENTH 1, 2, 3
TENTH 1, 2, 3
Again, it’s that TH sound at the end. I hope you’re poking out your tongue, resting your top teeth on your tongue and blowing air out… TH TH TH
We’ll do three more, okay? Stay with me. This is great practice.
ELEVENTH 1, 2, 3
ELEVENTH 1, 2, 3
ELEVENTH 1, 2, 3
Not bad… What about this one? It’s pretty crazy. Repeat after me:
TWELFTH 1, 2, 3
TWELFTH 1, 2, 3
TWELFTH 1, 2, 3
Wow… that one has a FTH ending. Again, it’s like your spitting or blowing a piece of food from your mouth… One more time – repeat after me:
TWELFTH 1, 2, 3
TWELFTH 1, 2, 3
TWELFTH 1, 2, 3
And lucky last – we’ll do one TEENTH pronunciation practice. Ready? Repeat after me:
THIRTEENTH 1, 2, 3
THIRTEENTH 1, 2, 3
THIRTEENTH 1, 2, 3
Alright, well done! We have just practised saying all of the ordinal numbers from 1 to 13 and some of them, as you just experienced, are difficult to say. Listen to this podcast again if you want! It’s great practice and especially great practice for the TH sound, which is one of the most difficult in English.
Remember: If you want more pronunciation practice including AI feedback on your pronunciation so you know exactly what you’re saying right and wrong then go to www.e2english.com and sign up for our English pronunciation training course.
Alright, I hope you had fun. My name is Jay and don’t forget to subscribe to this channel and share it with your friends.
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