Numbers in the teens (e.g.thirteen, fourteen & fifteen) are often confused with numbers such as thirty, forty & fifty. The two main differences between these number pairs are:
- In 30, 40 & 50, etc., the first syllable is stressed, while in 13, 14 & 15, etc., the second syllable is stressed.
- Numbers such as thirty, forty & fifty end in a short /ɪ/, while the e sound in thirteen, fourteen & fifteen is the long /i:/ sound.
Exercise 1: Contrasting the sounds
• Listen to the word pairs, focusing on the differences.
• Repeat, focusing on pronouncing the different sounds.
| First syllable stressed | Second syllable stressed | Listen to the numbers contrasted |
| thirty | thirteen | |
| forty | fourteen | |
| fifty | fifteen | |
| sixty | sixteen | |
| seventy | seventeen | |
| eighty | eighteen | |
| ninety | nineteen |
Exercise 2: Listening and distinguishing the sounds
This will help you learn to distinguish the number pairs.
- Listen to the recording.
- Choose the word you hear.
- You can listen as many times as you want.
- Click the blue > arrow on the bottom right to move to the next question
Exercise 3: Listening and distinguishing the sounds
This will help you learn to distinguish the number pairs.
- Listen to the recording.
- Choose the word you hear.
- You can listen as many times as you want.
- Click the blue > arrow on the bottom right to move to the next question
Exercise 4: Listening and distinguishing the sounds
This will help you learn to distinguish the number pairs.
- Listen to the recording.
- Choose the word you hear.
- You can listen as many times as you want.
- Click the blue > arrow on the bottom right to move to the next question
Exercise 5: Record your voice and listen back
Hopefully, by recording your voice and listening back, you’ll be able to hear if you are saying these words correctly and focus on improving your pronunciation.
Record your voice via the app below or visit this page for other ways to record yourself: Record your voice
© Paul Smit 2006-2021
Click the button below to see some differences between numbers in US English and British English.