twelfth

IPA/twelfθ/
KK[twˈɛlfθ]IPA/twelfθ/

twelfth — adjective

  • twelfthpositive
  • twelfthercomparative
  • twelfthestsuperlative

1. ranking at number twelve in a sequence, immediately following number eleven and

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

ranking at number twelve in a sequence, immediately following number eleven and coming before number thirteen.

Example

Nicholas lives on the twelfth floor of the apartment building.

attributive use: twelfth + floor (numbered position)

In Layla's class, the twelfth chapter is only four pages long.

collocation: twelfth chapter

Common collocations
  • twelfth place
  • twelfth floor
  • twelfth grade
  • twelfth birthday
  • twelfth century
  • twelfth anniversary
  • twelfth night
  • twelfth man

Grammar Patterns

twelfth + noun

the twelfth + noun

Usage Note

Always used before the noun it describes. The definite article 'the' is used when the noun is specific ('the twelfth floor'), but omitted in set phrases such as 'twelfth place' or 'twelfth grade'.

Common Mistakes

He came twelve in the race.
He came twelfth in the race.
Ordinal numbers like 'twelfth' are used for position, not the cardinal number 'twelve'.
She lives on twelve floor.
She lives on the twelfth floor.
Use the ordinal form with 'the' before a noun.

2. making up or equal to one of the twelve equal parts that a whole can be divided

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

making up or equal to one of the twelve equal parts that a whole can be divided into.

Example

A twelfth part of the farmland was set aside for wildlife.

partitive pattern: a twelfth part of + noun

In Grandmother Sana's will, each grandchild received a twelfth share.

collocation: twelfth share

Common collocations
  • a twelfth share
  • a twelfth part
  • a twelfth portion

Grammar Patterns

a twelfth + partitive noun + of

a twelfth + share/portion/part

Usage Note

Considerably less common in everyday speech than the ordinal sense. Used mainly in formal or written contexts such as legal documents, wills, and precise measurements. The noun following 'twelfth' is typically a partitive word like 'share', 'portion', or 'part'.

Common Mistakes

I ate a twelve of the pizza.
I ate a twelfth of the pizza.
Use the ordinal form, not the cardinal number, for fractions.

twelfth — noun

Word family

  • twelve
    numberA1
  • twelfthly
    adverbC1
  • twelvefold
    adjectiveC1

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • a twelfth of
  • one twelfth
  • in twelfth place
  • on the twelfth floor

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Twelfth comes from Old English 'twelfta', which developed from Proto-Germanic '*twaliftōn-'. The word is related to 'twelve' and originally meant 'two left' — that is, two units remaining after counting to ten. The '-f-' before the '-th' ending has been preserved in spelling since Old English times.