Fifth is the correct spelling; “fith” is a common misspelling. Use fifth when referring to the number five in order (e.g., the fifth chapter, fifth place).
Have you ever typed “fith” and stopped because it looked wrong? You are not alone. The word is short, but its sound can make the spelling hard. Many people say it fast and do not hear the second “f.” This leads them to search for “fith or fifth” before writing a date, school grade, ranking, floor number, or fraction.
The correct spelling is “fifth.” It means number five in a series. It can also mean one of five equal parts. “Fith” is not the standard spelling in British or American English. It is a common spelling mistake.
This guide gives you a quick answer first. It then explains where “fifth” came from, why the spelling feels odd, and whether the UK and US use different forms. You will also see clear examples for emails, news, social media, and formal writing. By the end, you will know when to write “fifth,” when to use “5th,” and how to avoid the mistake every time.
Fith or Fifth – Quick Answer
Fifth is the correct spelling.
Fith is incorrect.
The word fifth is the written form of 5th. It describes something that comes after the fourth item and before the sixth item.
Cambridge Dictionary also defines fifth as the written form of 5th and as one of five equal parts of something.
Correct examples
- She finished fifth in the race.
- Our office is on the fifth floor.
- Today is the fifth of August.
- He ate one fifth of the cake.
- This is my fifth visit to London.
Incorrect examples
- She finished fith in the race.
- Our class is on the fith floor.
- Today is the fith of August.
In each case, change fith to fifth.
Fith or Fifth Comparison Table
| Variation | Correct or Incorrect? | Meaning or Use | Example |
| Fith | Incorrect | Common spelling mistake | Incorrect: My fith lesson |
| Fifth | Correct | Number five in an order | My fifth lesson |
| 5th | Correct | Short number form | The 5th floor |
| One fifth | Correct | One of five equal parts | One fifth of the total |
| One-fifth | Correct before a noun | Describes a fraction of something | A one-fifth share |
| Fifths | Correct | More than one fifth | Divide it into fifths |
The Origin of Fith or Fifth
The word fifth comes from Old English. An older form was “fifta.” It was linked to the word five and an ending used to form order numbers.
The word has been used in English since around the year 1200. An earlier English form was written as “fift.” The spelling later changed under the influence of words such as fourth.
The ending “-th” is also used in many other order numbers:
- Four becomes fourth.
- Six becomes sixth.
- Seven becomes seventh.
- Ten becomes tenth.
For five, the spelling changes a little:
- Five + th = fifth
The final “e” in five is removed, and “-th” is added. This creates fifth.
The spelling can feel strange because it places “f” and “th” sounds close together. When people speak fast, one of these sounds may be hard to hear. That is one reason people write fith by mistake.
However, fith is not a separate historical, British, or American spelling. It is simply an error in modern standard English.
British English vs American English Spelling
There is no British and American spelling difference for fith or fifth.
Both forms of English use fifth. Dictionaries for both British and American learners list the same spelling and meaning. Cambridge also gives the pronunciation as /fɪfθ/ in both UK and US English.
Some English words change between countries. For example, British English may use colour, while American English uses color. That rule does not apply to fifth.
British vs American English Comparison
| Use | British English | American English |
| Correct word | Fifth | Fifth |
| Incorrect form | Fith | Fith |
| Number form | 5th | 5th |
| Fraction | One fifth | One fifth |
| Example with a date | The fifth of August | The fifth of August |
| Example with a floor | The fifth floor | The fifth floor |
Commonwealth countries also use fifth. This includes countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and Pakistan.
The rule is simple:
Use fifth in every form of standard English.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
Always use fifth when writing the word in full.
Use 5th when a number form looks better or saves space. Both forms are correct, but your choice may depend on the type of writing.
For a US audience
Use fifth in normal sentences.
Examples:
- She is in the fifth grade.
- The store is on Fifth Avenue.
- This is the fifth time I have called.
The number form 5th is also common in dates, lists, charts, and rankings.
For a UK or Commonwealth audience
Use fifth in formal and general writing.
Examples:
- He lives on the fifth floor.
- The meeting is on the fifth of May.
- She came fifth in the competition.
In British English, dates are often written in a day-first order, such as 5th May or the fifth of May.
For a global audience
Use fifth in full sentences. It is clear in every country where English is used.
Use 5th in:
- Calendars
- Short headings
- Rankings
- Tables
- Charts
- Event posters
- Short social media posts
For professional writing, never use fith.
Common Mistakes with Fith or Fifth
Several mistakes can happen when people write fifth.
1. Removing the second “f”
Incorrect:
- This is my fith attempt.
Correct:
- This is my fifth attempt.
Remember that fifth has two letters “f.” One is at the start, and the other comes after the letter “i.”
2. Writing “fiveth”
Incorrect:
- He came fiveth in the race.
Correct:
- He came fifth in the race.
Do not keep the final “e” from five. The correct change is:
Five → Fifth
3. Mixing “fifth” and “five”
Incorrect:
- She is the five person in line.
Correct:
- She is the fifth person in line.
Use five for a total number. Use fifth for a position or order.
4. Using “five” for a fraction
Incorrect:
- I ate one five of the pizza.
Correct:
- I ate one fifth of the pizza.
A fifth means one part out of five equal parts.
5. Writing “5th” as “5thth”
Incorrect:
- The event is on the 5thth of June.
Correct:
- The event is on the 5th of June.
The letters “th” are already part of 5th. Do not add them again.
6. Using the wrong order word
Incorrect:
- First, second, third, fourth, fith.
Correct:
- First, second, third, fourth, fifth.
Easy memory trick
Think of the word as:
FIF + TH = FIFTH
You can also remember this short line:
Five loses “e” and gains “th.”
Fith or Fifth in Everyday Examples
The word fifth appears in many types of writing.
In emails
Correct:
Our next meeting will take place on the fifth of September.
Correct:
This is the fifth file that I have sent today.
Incorrect:
This is the fith file that I have sent today.
For work emails, always check that the word has two “f” letters.
In news writing
Correct:
The player scored his fifth goal of the season.
Correct:
The company reported growth for the fifth month in a row.
Correct:
A fifth person joined the talks on Monday.
News writing often uses fifth for rankings, totals, events, and repeated actions.
On social media
Correct:
I finally finished my fifth book this year.
Correct:
Fifth day at the gym and still going strong.
Correct:
We are celebrating our fifth anniversary today.
The shorter form 5th is also fine:
Celebrating our 5th anniversary!
In school writing
Correct:
Sara is a fifth-grade student.
Correct:
The fifth chapter explains the water cycle.
Correct:
One fifth of the class was absent.
When fifth-grade comes before a noun, it normally uses a hyphen.
In formal writing
Correct:
The fifth section of the report presents the final results.
Correct:
Each person will receive one fifth of the total amount.
Correct:
The applicant placed fifth in the final ranking.
Formal reports, contracts, essays, and letters should use fifth, not fith.
In music
The word fifth can also describe the distance between musical notes. Cambridge lists this as a musical meaning of the word.
Example:
The song begins with a perfect fifth.
Fith or Fifth – Google Trends and Usage Data
People often search for “fith or fifth” because they want a fast spelling check. The correct word is common, but the wrong form can appear in search boxes, school work, messages, and online posts.
Google Trends compares search terms based on relative interest. Its numbers run from 0 to 100. They do not show the exact number of searches. A score of 100 marks the highest point within the selected place and time.
Google also treats spelling variations as separate search terms. It does not always combine a correct word with its misspellings. This means “fifth,” “fith,” and “fith or fifth” should be checked as separate terms.
A very low-volume misspelling may show little or no Trends data. That does not mean no one searches for it. It may mean that there is not enough data for Google to display a clear pattern.
Usage by country and context
| Region or Audience | Standard Spelling | Likely Search Context |
| United States | Fifth | School grades, rankings, dates, Fifth Avenue |
| United Kingdom | Fifth | Floors, dates, rankings, fractions |
| Canada and Australia | Fifth | General English writing |
| India and Pakistan | Fifth | English learning, exams, dates, school work |
| Global English learners | Fifth | Spelling checks and grammar questions |
Exact country interest can change with the selected date range. For normal content, fifth should be the main word. The full phrase “fith or fifth” is useful when answering a spelling question.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it fith or fifth?
Fifth is correct. Fith is a spelling mistake.
Example:
- Correct: This is my fifth visit.
- Incorrect: This is my fith visit.
2. Why is fifth spelled with two “f” letters?
The word comes from five plus an old ending used for order numbers. The final “e” is removed, and “-th” is added.
The result is:
Five → Fifth
3. Is fith a real English word?
Fith is not the standard spelling of the order number. In normal English writing, it should be corrected to fifth.
4. Is fifth the same in British and American English?
Yes. British and American English both use fifth. There is no regional spelling difference.
5. Can I write 5th instead of fifth?
Yes. Both 5th and fifth are correct.
Use fifth in normal sentences:
She came fifth in the race.
Use 5th when space is limited:
5th August
6. How do you pronounce fifth?
It is pronounced with an “f” sound at the start and a “th” sound at the end. The standard pronunciation is shown as /fɪfθ/.
Say it slowly as:
fif-th
7. Is “one fifth” written with a hyphen?
Usually, write one fifth without a hyphen when it acts as a noun.
Example:
One fifth of the money was saved.
Use a hyphen when it comes before a noun as one describing unit.
Example:
She owns a one-fifth share of the company.
Conclusion
The answer to “fith or fifth” is simple: fifth is the correct spelling. Use it for the number that comes after fourth, for a rank, for a date, or for one of five equal parts. You may also write 5th when a number form suits the text.
The spelling feels hard because fifth has two “f” sounds close together. In quick speech, one sound may seem weak or lost. That can make fith look right, but it is still a spelling error. British and American English follow the same rule, so you do not need to change the word for a UK, US, Commonwealth, or global audience.
For professional writing, always use fifth or 5th. Read the word as “five plus th” when you need help remembering it. A spell checker can also catch the wrong form. With this simple rule, your emails, school work, posts, reports, and articles will stay clear and correct.
Read More: Neighbor or Neighbour: Which Spelling Should You Use?
Hi, I’m Shafqat Rehman. With several years of experience in English grammar, spelling, word usage, and professional writing, I create simple and practical guides. My goal is to make confusing language rules easy to understand and help readers write with greater confidence and accuracy.