What does twelfth mean?
Twelfth is the ordinal number corresponding to 12, meaning that something is in the twelfth place in a sequence. It is commonly used as an adjective, as in “the twelfth of May” or “twelfth grade,” and as an adverb in reports of a result, as in “She finished twelfth.” As a noun, it can also denote one of twelve equal parts of a whole, though this use is much less common than the ordinary ordinal sense. The form is standard in both British and American English and carries no special regional or social register. Its -th ending follows the regular English pattern for ordinal numbers, while the unusual spelling of twelfth comes from the historical development of the form rather than from any irregular pronunciation. Knowing the difference between cardinal twelve and ordinal twelfth helps speakers use both precisely: twelve names a quantity, whereas twelfth identifies a position in an ordered series or the corresponding item.
Denoting the item or position that comes eleventh in a sequence.
"The ceremony is scheduled for the twelfth of June."
The ordinal suffix -th is normally written attached to the preceding number or its equivalent word form.
The twelfth position or thing in a sequence; also, less commonly, one of twelve equal parts of a whole.
"She was born on the twelfth of April."
The plural twelfths is rare and normally appears when multiple corresponding ordinal positions or dates are being discussed.
In twelfth place or position.
"The sprinter was forced to withdraw and finished twelfth."
This use is standard when reporting an ordinal result.
Rare in ordinary usage; the plural is chiefly used when referring to multiple twelfth positions or twelfth days.
"She noted the twelfths of each month in her diary."
Twelfth keeps the Old English base twelve, while its final -th turns a quantity into an exact place in a sequence.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does twelfth come from?
Twelfth developed from the Old English ordinal twelfta, formed from twelf, the Old English form of twelve, by adding the ordinal suffix -ta. The modern -th ending reflects the later Middle English and Early Modern English development of English ordinal inflection. Its base is cognate with forms such as Dutch twaalf and German zwölf, while derivatives such as twelvefold and twelvepence retain the same twelve element.
Related word forms
How twelfth is actually used
Twelfth is standard in formal writing and everyday speech in both British and American English. The spelling with -th is conventional; the fraction sense is normally expressed as one-twelfth or a twelfth.
Easily confused with twelfth
Twelve is the cardinal number naming the quantity 12, whereas twelfth is the ordinal identifying position 12 in a series.