How to Pronounce "thirty"
The correct pronunciation of "thirty" is THUR-tee /ˈθɜːti/. Tap play to hear it, say it into your mic for a free clarity check, and fix the "TUR-tee" habit for good.
thirty
/ˈθɜːti/The number 30.
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Record yourself saying “thirty” and get a real, AI-graded pronunciation score with word-by-word feedback — free, no account needed.The Indian-English Mistake: "TUR-tee" — and the Fix
| Aspect | Common in India (incorrect) | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Sounds like | Saying 'TUR-tee' with a hard t, blurring it with 'thirty' and 'dirty'. | THUR-tee /ˈθɜːti/ |
| Stress | Often on the wrong syllable | First syllable (THUR). |
How Do You Pronounce "thirty"?
"thirty" is pronounced THUR-tee /ˈθɜːti/. The stress is on the first syllable (THUR). As a number, it means the number 30.
The word opens with a soft /θ/ 'th', not a hard 't' — THUR-tee, not TUR-tee.
Note: US /ˈθɜːrti/ ('THUR-tee') keeps the r audible; the 'th' is the same soft /θ/ in both.
Say "thirty" Step by Step
Break the word down, get the stress right, then blend it back together at normal speed. Repeat each step out loud three times.
Break it into syllables
THUR-tee — say each part slowly and separately first.
Stress the right part
First syllable (THUR). Make the stressed syllable a little louder and longer.
Nail the key sound
The word opens with a soft /θ/ 'th', not a hard 't' — THUR-tee, not TUR-tee.
Blend and repeat
Now say "thirty" at normal speed: THUR-tee. Record yourself and compare.
Minimal-Pair Drills for "thirty" (2 Minutes, Out Loud)
Say each drill line aloud, slowly first, then at normal speed. On the last drill, use the mic check at the top of this page to test yourself.
turn → thirty
'turn' is a hard t; 'thirty' needs the tongue between the teeth first.
NOT TUR-tee — THUR-tee
Puff of air on the teeth at the start, then a soft second beat.
Say at speed: "She is thirty years old."
Keep the opening th airy even when counting quickly.
Why "thirty" Is Tricky — and How to Fix It
Why this happens
With no /θ/ in most Indian languages, the airy 'th' is replaced by the nearest hard 't'.
Tip: Start with the tongue-tip between the teeth for 'th', then say 'ur-tee': THUR-tee.
Hear “thirty” in a Sentence
Read each line aloud with the same rhythm. The word to listen for is in bold.
She is thirty years old.
It costs thirty rupees.
We waited thirty minutes.
Now say it inside a sentence
Getting "thirty" right on its own is the easy part. Pronunciation only sticks in connected speech. Read a passage aloud and get scored on accuracy and pace, word by word — free, no login.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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