How Do You Spell TWENTY FIRST?

Pronunciation: [twˈɛnti fˈɜːst] (IPA)

The spelling of "twenty first" is a bit tricky because it combines two words into one. The IPA phonetic transcription for this word would be /ˈtwɛnti fɜrst/. The "tw" sound is pronounced like "twuh," the "en" sounds like "ehn," and the "ty" has a subtle "ih" sound. The "f" in "first" sounds like "fuh" and the "ir" is pronounced like "er." Putting it all together, "twenty first" is pronounced as "twuh-ehn-tih-fuh-erst." Remembering this phonetic breakdown can make this word easier to spell correctly.

TWENTY FIRST Meaning and Definition

1. Twenty first is an adjective that refers to the ordinal number indicating the position of something in a series, following the number twenty and preceding twenty-second. Derived from the cardinal number twenty and the suffix -th used to form ordinal numbers, the term "twenty first" is primarily used to specify the initial or starting position of a sequence. It describes the median position between the numbers twenty and twenty-two.

   In numerical form, "twenty first" is represented as 21st, with "st" symbolizing the ordinal indicator commonly employed after a numeral. This term is frequently applied to numerals and dates, enabling individuals to pinpoint a specific point in a series or sequence, often associated with historical events, anniversaries, rankings, or milestones.

   Furthermore, the term can be employed metaphorically to denote a state of being ahead or advanced. For example, if someone is considered to be at the "twenty first" level of their skill or expertise in a particular field, it implies that they have surpassed a significant number of stages or levels and are at an advanced or accomplished stage.

   Overall, "twenty first" functions as an adjective indicating the position of something in a sequence or the level of advancement in a certain domain.

Etymology of TWENTY FIRST

The term "twenty first" is composed of two parts: "twenty" and "first".

The word "twenty" originated from the Old English word "twēntig", which was derived from the Old Norse word "tjúgundi". This Old Norse term referred to the number 20. It is believed to have been created from a combination of the words "tveir" (meaning "two") and "tigir" (meaning "tens").

The word "first" is derived from the Old English word "fyresta" or "fyrsta", which came from the Proto-Germanic word "furistaz". This term ultimately originated from the Proto-Indo-European root "*per" or "*pr" meaning "forward" or "in front".

Combining these two words gives us "twenty first", which denotes the ordinal number that follows twenty.