This content was created by Hadar Shemesh. This content was uploaded by Hadar Shemesh. This is a podcast episode titled "153. How to pronounce 'Thirty' and 'Thirteen'" (Influency Podcast, "How to Pronounce Friday" segment) created on 2021-08-27. The episode features host Hadar Shemesh leading a short pronunciation lesson on distinguishing teens (13, 14, 15...) from tens (30, 40, 50...), focusing on the pair 13 vs 30 and explaining stress placement, aspirated vs flap T sounds, and the final N sound, with brief intro/outro lines from an additional speaker.
Welcome to the Influency Podcast. I'm Hadar and this is how to Pronounce Friday, where we take a confusing word or word pair. We learn how to pronounce it and how to use it with confidence. Let's get started.
Today we're going to talk about the pair 13 and 30. We're going to talk specifically about the spare, but also learn the general rule when it comes to the difference between teens like 13, 14, 15, and tens like 30, 40, 50. Alright, so the first pair, 13 and 30, they begin the same th. To make this syllable, bring the tongue out for the th. It's a soft th sound release air and then pull the tongue in for the R th directly. So it's kind of like you disregard the vowel that is there. There is no vowel, it's just a th pulling in for an r th. For the R. The tongue pulls to the middle of the mouth, the lips round a bit, and the sides of the tongue push the insides of the upper teeth. Then listen to the difference between the two. 13, 30. 13, 30. The difference here, the biggest difference lies in the stress. In the first word, the stress is on the second syllable. What is stress? Stress is the syllable. A stressed syllable is the syllable that is longer, louder and higher in pitch than the rest. 13 versus 30. Here the stress is on the first syllabus. Syllable 30.
Ta da da ta.
13, 30. Also, the stress affects the pronunciation of the T sound because in the first word we have 13. It's a strong aspirated T because it's at the beginning of a stressed syllable versus 30. Here it's a flap T, so it sounds like a D30, D13. And of course, there is the n at the end of the first word of the teens. And that's very important to bring your tongue up to get to the N sound. All right, so it's not 13 and 30. Okay, then it sounds too similar. 13, 30. Same thing for 14, 40. Okay, 14 stresses on the second syllable. And 40, 15, 16, 60, 17, 70. All right, you can keep going with the rest of the numbers. And now when you ask your $30 back, you won't get only 13 because you'll say it correctly. So good. I hope I helped.
Okay, that was your how to Pronounce Friday episode. I hope you enjoyed it. And if you like the podcast, consider subscribing to the podcast. And if you feel really crazy, you can even rate and review the podcast. And you can find me at Hadar Accentsway on Instagram where you can DM me and ask for all the crazy, fancy, confusing words that you'd like to know how to pronounce. Have a beautiful day, and I'll see you next time.
