thirty-eight

UK: ˈθɜːti eɪt | US: ˈθɜːrti eɪt

Definition

  1. n. the cardinal number equal to thirty plus eight (38)

  2. adj. amounting to thirty-eight in number

Structure
thirty <30>eight <8>
Etymology

The word "thirty-eight" is a compound numeral formed by combining "thirty" (derived from Old English "þrītig," meaning "three tens") and "eight" (from Old English "eahta," meaning the numeral 8). This structure follows the Germanic pattern of constructing numbers by addition, where the tens and units are explicitly linked (e.g., "thirty" + "eight"). The hyphenated form standardizes the spelling in modern English.

Examples

  1. She scored thirty-eight points in the basketball game.

  2. The recipe requires thirty-eight grams of sugar.

  3. Thirty-eight students attended the workshop.

  4. The temperature dropped to thirty-eight degrees overnight.

  5. He waited thirty-eight minutes for the bus.