Pronunciation: [twˈɛlfθ] (IPA) 
The word "twelfth" is a tricky one in English spelling. It's pronounced as /twɛlfθ/ where the "f" sound is replaced with "th" sound. This is because the "f" sound in old English was often written as "th," and it's a remnant of that spelling. The "th" sound in "twelfth" comes from the Middle English word "twelfþe," which means "12th." Even though this word may seem difficult, with practice and knowledge of its history, it can be mastered.
Twelfth is an adjective and a cardinal number used to describe the position or quantity of something in a sequence or series that comes after the eleventh and before the thirteenth. The term "twelfth" is derived from the Old English word "twelfta," which refers to the number that follows eleven.
In terms of numbering, "twelfth" occupies the position of being twelve places after the first element. It represents the quantity or location of something in relation to a set of items, individuals, or steps within a series. For example, "twelfth place" indicates the position of an item that ranks as the twelfth out of a total count.
Furthermore, "twelfth" is often used to refer to the last of a set of 12 items or divisions. It commonly occurs in relation to months, days, or hours. For instance, "the twelfth month of the year" signifies December, which completes the yearly cycle.
The term "twelfth" holds significance in various contexts, including mathematics, music, literature, and sports. It is frequently employed to describe a precise division or ordinal number within these domains.
In summary, "twelfth" functions as both an adjective and a cardinal number to indicate the position, quantity, or order of something that follows the eleventh in a sequence or series.
• The ordinal of twelve.
• One part of twelve.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word twelfth comes from the Middle English word twelfte, which is derived from the Old English word twelfta. Both of these words are considered to be formed by combining the number twelve with the suffix -te, which signifies an ordinal number. Ultimately, the word twelfth can be traced back to the Old English word twelf, meaning twelve.
