How Do You Spell 12?

Pronunciation: [twˈɛlv] (IPA)

The word "12" is spelled with the letters "t-w-e-l-v-e" in the English language. Using IPA phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced as /twɛlv/. The first sound /t/ represents the voiceless alveolar plosive, followed by /w/ which is a voiced bilabial glide. The third sound /ɛ/ is an open-mid front unrounded vowel, followed by /l/ which represents the voiced alveolar lateral approximant. The last sound /v/ is a voiced labiodental fricative. Overall, the spelling of "12" is a combination of four sounds that make up its unique pronunciation.

12 Meaning and Definition

  1. The number 12 is an integer that represents the quantity or value after 11 and before 13 in the numerical sequence. It is a composite number, meaning it can be evenly divided by positive integers other than 1 and itself. Specifically, it can be divided by 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12. In terms of its numeral representation, 12 is depicted using the Arabic numeral system as "12."

    This number holds significance in various contexts, such as time measurement, where it represents the number of hours in half of a day or the number of months in a year. In timekeeping, the number 12 also plays a notable role in the division of hours on a clock face, where the clock displays 12 hours and repeats the cycle twice within a day. Furthermore, this number has cultural and religious symbolism. In Western cultures, a "dozen" typically refers to a collection of twelve items or objects.

    In mathematics, 12 possesses several interesting properties. It is the smallest abundant number, meaning the sum of its proper divisors exceeds the number itself. In addition, 12 is divisible by both 2 and 3, making it a highly composite number. In prime factorization, it can be expressed as 2^2 × 3^1, indicating the number comprises a square of a prime number (2) multiplied by another prime number (3).

    Overall, the number 12 represents a numerical value or quantity that finds usage in various fields, from time measurement to cultural symbolism and mathematical properties.

Common Misspellings for 12

  • 1w
  • 212
  • 122
  • q12
  • 1q2
  • 12q
  • 1w2
  • 12w
  • 132
  • 123
  • 92
  • 02
  • 1r
  • 16
  • 1 2

Etymology of 12

The word "12" is derived from the Middle English "twelf" or "twelfe", which originated from Old English "twelf" or "tueolf". These Old English forms were derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*twalif", which eventually traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*dwōu-li-", meaning "two-left" or "two remaining". This root likely refers to the number two being left after counting the ten fingers, the base system used for counting. The word "twelf" or "twelfe" evolved into "twelve" in Modern English, which is the number after eleven and before thirteen.

Idioms with the word 12

  • 12
  • 12-ounce curls "12-ounce curls" is a humorous way of referring to lifting and drinking a can or bottle of beer. It is often used to jokingly describe weightlifting exercises involving beer cans or bottles.

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