thirty-one
thirty-one
UK[ˈθɜːti wʌn]US[ˈθɜːrti wʌn]
cardinal number
The number equivalent to the product of three and ten; one more than thirty; 31.
Morpheme Breakdown
thirty
one
thirty
30
one
1
Etymology
The word 'thirty-one' is a transparent compound numeral formed within the Germanic language tradition. Its first element, 'thirty', descends from the Old English þrītiġ, itself built from the root for 'three' combined with a suffix denoting a group of ten. The second element, 'one', originates from the Old English ān, a fundamental numeral for a single unit. The modern compound follows the standard English pattern for numbers from 21 to 99, where a tens-multiple is joined with a hyphen to a units digit, creating a literal and logical summation meaning "thirty and one".
Analysis
Structure: thirty (30) + one (1)
- thirty: From Old English þrītiġ, meaning "thirty". A compound of þrīe (three) and -tiġ (a suffix denoting multiples of ten). Germanic origin.
- one: From Old English ān, meaning "one". Proto-Germanic origin, related to the concept of a single unit.
Examples
She celebrated her thirty-first birthday with a quiet dinner.
The final score of the game was thirty-one to twenty-eight.
Please turn to page thirty-one in your textbook.