How to pronounce “eighth”
Eighth is pronounced /ˈeɪtθ/. It has 1 syllable. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 1 beat. It is a single beat — one vowel, said in one push of breath.
Stress pattern O — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
The common mispronunciation of “eighth”
✗ Often said: /ˈeaɪθ/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ˈeɪtθ/
Why the two come apart: the silent “gh” is not pronounced, even though the spelling begs you to say it; also, at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here.
This is why reading English aloud from spelling alone goes wrong so often: the letters of “eighth” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“eighth” sound by sound
“eighth” is built out of 3 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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eɪStart at the /e/ position and glide upward and forward toward /ɪ/ — the jaw closes as you say it.
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tTouch the tongue tip to the bumpy ridge just behind the upper teeth, block the air, then release it with a puff.
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θLet the tongue tip touch (or just peek between) the upper front teeth and blow air over it with no voicing.
Silent letters in “eighth”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- ghThe letter “gh”Silent “gh” — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Minimal pairs — words one sound away from “eighth”
Each of these differs from “eighth” by exactly one sound. If you can say both of a pair and hear the difference, that sound is under control:
Questions people ask about “eighth”
- How do you pronounce “eighth”?
- “eighth” is pronounced /ˈeɪtθ/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “eighth”?
- “eighth” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “eighth”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈeaɪθ/, but it is actually /ˈeɪtθ/, because the silent “gh” is not pronounced, even though the spelling begs you to say it.
- Does “eighth” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent “gh”.
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