How to spell twelfth
A Year 5 and 6 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
twelfth
T-W-E-L-F-T-H
The part to watch: twelve becomes twelfth, and the v turns into f. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Twelfth comes from twelve, but the ve changes to f before th. People often leave the f out because it is hard to say.
Twelfth is one of the words on the Year 5 and 6 list with a suffix to watch. A suffix is an ending such as -ment, -tion or -ed. Sometimes the root word changes when you add it: a letter is dropped, doubled or swapped.
Common mistakes with twelfth
- Wrong: twelthRight: twelfth
- Wrong: twelvthRight: twelfth
A way to remember it
Twelve, twelfth; five, fifth: the v becomes f in both.
Twelfth in syllables
twelfth
Twelfth has one syllable, so learn it as a whole word.
In a sentence
Today is my brother's twelfth birthday.
Twelfth on the statutory list
Twelfth is on the Year 5 and 6 statutory word list in the national curriculum for England. Children are taught these words in Years 5 and 6, when they are 9 to 11.
Test yourself
A short spelling test that starts with twelfth, then nine more words from the Year 5 and 6 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a suffix to watch
These words from the Year 5 and 6 list share the same pattern as twelfth.
More words
Questions parents ask
How do you spell twelfths?
Twelfths is twelfth + s, as in the fraction "five twelfths". The f stays.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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