How Do You Spell 3?

Pronunciation: [θɹˈiː] (IPA)

The spelling of the number "3" in English is straightforward, but the phonetic transcription is slightly more complex. In the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), the sound for "3" is represented as /θriː/. The symbol "θ" represents the voiceless dental fricative, which is produced by placing the tongue between the teeth and blowing air through it. The "r" sound is produced by vibrating the tongue against the roof of the mouth. The long vowel sound "ee" is represented by the symbol "iː". Together, these sounds produce the word "three".

3 Meaning and Definition

1. The number 3 is a cardinal numeral that represents the quantity following 2 and preceding 4. It belongs to the set of natural numbers and is considered an odd number as it is not evenly divisible by 2. It can also be described as a prime number, as it has no divisors other than 1 and itself.

   The numeral "3" is commonly used in mathematics, counting, and various other disciplines. It is the base of the ternary numeral system, which uses the digits 0, 1, and 2 to represent values. In addition, the number 3 plays a significant role in arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

   Beyond mathematics, the number 3 holds cultural and symbolic significance. It frequently appears in religious contexts, with references to the Holy Trinity in Christianity or the three jewels in Buddhism. Many folktales and fairy tales employ the motif of three, symbolizing completeness, as seen in stories like "The Three Little Pigs" or "Goldilocks and the Three Bears."

   Furthermore, the concept of "three" extends to common phrases in everyday language. Expressions such as "third time's a charm" or "the rule of three" indicate the belief that the number has a special significance or carries a sense of completeness.

   Overall, the number 3 is a fundamental mathematical value representing a quantity, while also holding cultural, symbolic, and linguistic significance in various contexts.

Common Misspellings for 3

• 43
• 34
• 33

Etymology of 3

The word 3 is an Arabic numeral or digit. Its etymology traces back to the Hindu-Arabic numeral system, which was developed by Indian mathematicians around the 6th to 7th centuries. This numeral system was introduced to the Western world by Arab mathematicians and scholars during the medieval period. The number 3 itself represents the third cardinal number and is derived from the Old French word three, which ultimately comes from the Latin word tres. The Latin word tres can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root *tréyes, meaning three.

Idioms with the word 3

• 3