Nineth or Ninth: Which Spelling Is Correct?

If you’ve ever paused while writing “nineth or ninth,” you’re definitely not the only one. The word looks like it should follow a simple pattern: nine → nineth. But English has other plans.

The correct spelling is ninth. “Nineth” is a common spelling mistake, even though it may seem logical at first glance. In this guide, we’ll explain why ninth is correct, how the word is formed, how it is pronounced, and how to avoid the mistake in the future.

Ninth or Nineth: Which Is Correct?

The correct spelling is ninth.

• Ninth — correct
• Nineth — incorrect

Ninth is the ordinal form of nine. Ordinal numbers tell us the position of something in a sequence.

For example:

• One → first
• Two → second
• Three → third
• Eight → eighth
• Nine → ninth
• Ten → tenth

So if you’re wondering “ninth or nineth which is correct?”, the answer is straightforward: ninth.

Why Is “Nineth” Incorrect?

The confusion comes from the spelling of the number nine.

It is natural to think that adding -th to nine should produce nineth. However, English spelling doesn’t always work by simply attaching a suffix to the original word.

When nine becomes an ordinal number, the final e is removed:

nine → ninth

The same general idea appears in other English words where letters change or disappear when a suffix is added.

Why Does the E Disappear?

The spelling ninth developed from older forms of the word. Over time, English pronunciation and spelling changed, leaving us with the modern form ninth rather than nineth.

In modern English, the important thing to remember is that ninth is an established irregular-looking spelling. You don’t add -th directly to the full spelling of nine.

Ninth Spelling: How to Remember It

A simple trick can make the ninth spelling much easier to remember.

Think of it as:

NINE − E + TH = NINTH

Start with:

NINE

Remove the final E:

NIN

Then add TH:

NINTH

That’s it.

Another way to remember it is to connect ninth with ninety, which also begins with nin- rather than nine-.

How to Use “Ninth” in a Sentence

Ninth describes something that comes after the eighth position and before the tenth.

Here are some examples:

• Today is the ninth day of the month.
• She finished in ninth place.
• Our meeting is scheduled for the ninth of June.
• He lives on the ninth floor.
• This is my ninth attempt.
• The team won its ninth consecutive game.

Notice that ninth is used when talking about an order, position, date, or sequence.

Ninth vs. Nine: What’s the Difference?

Although nine and ninth are closely related, they don’t serve exactly the same grammatical purpose.

Nine

Nine is a cardinal number. It tells you how many.

“I have nine books.”

Ninth

Ninth is an ordinal number. It tells you where something comes in a sequence.

“The ninth book is my favorite.”

A quick comparison:

Word	Type	Meaning	Example
Nine	Cardinal number	How many	I bought nine apples.
Ninth	Ordinal number	Position/order	She ate the ninth apple.

This distinction is useful when deciding whether you need nine or ninth.

Is “Nineth” Ever Correct?

In standard modern English, nineth is not the correct spelling of the ordinal number.

You may occasionally see nineth in informal writing, spelling exercises, online posts, or older texts, but that doesn’t make it the standard form.

If you’re writing an essay, email, school assignment, article, résumé, or professional document, use ninth.

How Do You Pronounce “Ninth”?

The pronunciation of ninth can be tricky because the spelling contains several consonants together.

It is generally pronounced approximately like:

/naɪnθ/

The first part sounds like “nine,” followed by the th sound.

Because the word contains the sequence n-th, some speakers may simplify the pronunciation in casual speech. That’s normal, but the spelling remains ninth.

Is the “E” Pronounced in Ninth?

No.

There is no final e in the correct spelling:

ninth

Not:

nineth

This is another reason the incorrect spelling can cause confusion: the written word doesn’t preserve the complete spelling of nine.

Common Mistakes With Ninth

The most common mistake is simply adding -th to nine.

Incorrect

“Today is the nineth.”

Correct

“Today is the ninth.”

Other common errors include:

• nineth
• ninteenth
• nineth place
• nineth grade

The correct forms are:

• ninth
• nineteenth
• ninth place
• ninth grade

Ninth in Dates

Ninth is especially common when writing dates.

For example:

“The event will take place on the ninth of September.”

In American English, you might also see:

“The event is on September ninth.”

Both use ninth because the date identifies a position within the month.

Ninth in Written Dates

You may see:

• September 9
• September 9th
• the ninth of September

The exact style depends on the context and style guide, but the word itself is always spelled ninth, not nineth.

Ninth in Fractions

The word ninth can also describe a fraction.

For example:

One ninth of the cake was left.

In mathematical notation:

1/9 = one ninth

Similarly:

• 1/8 = one eighth
• 1/9 = one ninth
• 1/10 = one tenth

Here again, the correct spelling is ninth.

Ninth as an Ordinal Number

Understanding ordinal numbers makes the spelling easier to place in context.

Ordinal numbers include:

1. First
2. Second
3. Third
4. Fourth
5. Fifth
6. Sixth
7. Seventh
8. Eighth
9. Ninth
10. Tenth

Unlike most straightforward -th forms, ninth drops the e from nine.

That’s why it doesn’t follow the spelling pattern you might initially expect.

FAQs About Ninth or Nineth

Is it ninth or nineth?

Ninth is correct. Nineth is a common spelling error.

Which is correct, ninth or nineth?

Ninth is the correct standard English spelling of the ordinal number associated with nine.

Why is “nineth” wrong?

The ordinal form of nine is ninth, not nineth. The final e in nine is removed before the -th ending.

How do you spell ninth?

The correct spelling is:

N-I-N-T-H

So the word is ninth.

Is ninth an ordinal number?

Yes. Ninth is an ordinal number because it describes position in a sequence, such as ninth place or the ninth day.

What is the difference between nine and ninth?

Nine tells you a quantity, while ninth tells you a position.

For example:

“There are nine students.”

“She is the ninth student in line.”

Is “nineth” a word?

Nineth is generally considered a misspelling when you’re trying to write the ordinal form of nine. The standard spelling is ninth.

How do you remember the spelling of ninth?

Use this simple formula:

NINE − E + TH = NINTH

Removing the final e gives you the correct spelling.

Final Answer: Ninth or Nineth?

When you’re deciding between nineth or ninth, choose ninth every time in standard English.

Ninth is the correct ordinal form of nine, while nineth is a common spelling mistake caused by adding -th directly to nine. The easiest way to remember it is to drop the final e before adding th:

NINE → NIN + TH → NINTH

So whether you’re writing about the ninth day, ninth place, ninth grade, or ninth of the month, the spelling stays the same: ninth.

If you often run into confusing English word pairs like this, checking the spelling and understanding the reason behind it can make the correct form much easier to remember.