Fith or Fifth: Correct Spelling, Meaning, and Examples (for 2026)

Are you unsure If to write fith or fifth? The correct spelling is fifth. The word fith is a common spelling mistake, not the standard English spelling of the ordinal number that comes after fourth. You use fifth when talking about the fifth day, the fifth person in a line, or the fifth item on a list.

For example, you would write, “My birthday is on the fifth of May,” or “She finished in fifth place.” In both sentences, fifth shows position or order.

This spelling can be confusing because the letters in fifth are not always easy to pronounce. In this guide, you will learn the meaning of fifth, why fith is incorrect, how to use the word in sentences, and how to remember the spelling. You will also find common mistakes, simple grammar tips, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Quick Answer: Fith or Fifth?

Fifth is the correct spelling. Fith is a misspelling in standard English when you mean the number that comes after fourth.

The word fifth is an ordinal number. It tells you the position of a person, object, event, or item in a sequence.

For example:

• Correct: Today is the fifth day of the month.
• Incorrect: Today is the fith day of the month.
• Correct: He came in fifth place.
• Incorrect: He came in fith place.

The correct spelling includes the letters f-i-f-t-h.

Word	Correct?	Meaning
Fifth	Yes	The position after fourth
Fith	No, not for this meaning	A common misspelling of fifth

Remember this simple rule: whenever you mean the number after fourth, write fifth, with two f’s and the letters th at the end.

The word fifth is an ordinal number. Ordinal numbers tell us the order or position of something in a group or sequence. They answer the question “Which one?” rather than “How many?”

For example, the number five tells you how many things there are. The word fifth tells you the position of one thing.

Imagine five books arranged on a shelf. You can count them as one, two, three, four, and five. If you point to the last book, you can call it the fifth book.

Here are some simple examples:

• She lives on the fifth floor.
• Friday is the fifth day of the workweek in many schedules.
• This is my fifth attempt.
• He finished fifth in the race.
• Our fifth lesson will cover spelling.
• The fifth chapter explains the main idea.

In each sentence, fifth shows order or position.

You may also see the word in dates, fractions, music, sports, school activities, and everyday conversations. For example, “One fifth of the cake is left” means one of five equal parts remains.

The meaning stays connected to the number five, but the exact use depends on the sentence.

Why Is Fifth the Correct Spelling?

The correct spelling is fifth because it is the standard English ordinal form of five. English spelling does not always follow the exact way a word sounds, and fifth is one example of this.

When you change five into fifth, the spelling changes. You do not simply write fiveth or remove letters until the word sounds easier. The accepted form is fifth.

Compare these forms:

Number	Ordinal form	Example
One	First	She came first.
Two	Second	He finished second.
Three	Third	This is the third lesson.
Four	Fourth	Turn left at the fourth street.
Five	Fifth	They live on the fifth floor.
Six	Sixth	This is the sixth question.

Notice that the first four ordinal forms do not all follow the same spelling pattern. The forms first, second, and third are irregular, while fourth, fifth, and sixth follow a more familiar pattern.

The word fifth keeps the f from five and adds -th to form the ordinal number, with a spelling change from the final ve in five to f in fifth.

This is why fith is incorrect. It leaves out the second f in the standard spelling.

Fith or Fifth: What Is the Main Difference?

The main difference is that fifth is the correct English word, while fith is usually a spelling error when someone means the ordinal number after fourth.

People often type fith because they forget a letter or write the word as they think it sounds. However, the correct spelling remains fifth in standard American English and British English.

Consider these examples:

• “This is my fifth visit.” Correct.
• “This is my fith visit.” Incorrect.
• “She came fifth in the competition.” Correct.
• “She came fith in the competition.” Incorrect.

The two spellings do not represent two different ordinal numbers. In ordinary English writing, fith is not an accepted alternative to fifth.

Feature	Fifth	Fith
Standard spelling	Yes	No
Represents the ordinal number after fourth	Yes	No
Used in standard dates	Yes	No
Used for positions and rankings	Yes	No
Recommended for formal writing	Yes	No

If you are writing a school assignment, email, blog post, or business document, always use fifth when referring to the number five in an ordered sequence.

You can use fifth in many everyday situations. The key is to use it when describing the position of something in a sequence.

One common use is to describe a person’s position in a competition. For example, “Mia finished fifth in the race.” This means four competitors finished ahead of Mia.

Another common use is to describe a place in a building. For example, “Their office is on the fifth floor.” This identifies the floor’s position in the building.

You can also use fifth when talking about events, attempts, lessons, and items in a list.

Here are more examples:

• This is the fifth time I have called.
• He opened the fifth box.
• We will meet on the fifth day of June.
• The fifth student answered the question.
• She read the fifth page of the book.
• Our team won its fifth game of the season.
• Please look at the fifth item on the list.
• This is my fifth year at the company.

In each sentence, fifth tells the reader which person, item, or event is being discussed.

You can also use fifth before a noun, as in “the fifth question,” or after a linking verb, as in “She was fifth in line.”

Both forms are correct. The word’s role in the sentence changes slightly, but its spelling does not.

Fifth as an Ordinal Number

Ordinal numbers are used to show order. They are different from cardinal numbers, which tell us how many items there are.

For example, five is a cardinal number, while fifth is an ordinal number.

If five students stand in a line, you can say, “There are five students.” This tells us the total number of students. If you say, “The fifth student is wearing a blue shirt,” you identify one student’s position in the line.

Here is a simple comparison:

Cardinal number	Ordinal number	Example
One	First	The first runner is ready.
Two	Second	The second runner is ready.
Three	Third	The third runner is ready.
Four	Fourth	The fourth runner is ready.
Five	Fifth	The fifth runner is ready.

Ordinal numbers are useful when giving directions, describing rankings, explaining steps, and arranging information.

For example, a recipe might say, “Add the fifth ingredient.” A teacher might say, “Open your book to the fifth page.” A sports report might explain that an athlete finished fifth.

In all these situations, fifth gives a clear position. Writing fith instead would be a spelling mistake and could make the writing look unedited.

How to Write Fifth in Dates

The word fifth is often used when talking about dates. It can describe the fifth day of a month or the date of an event.

For example, “My appointment is on the fifth of June.” This means the appointment is scheduled for June 5.

In American English, dates are often written as “June 5” or “June 5th.” In words, you can say “June fifth.” The spelling of the word remains fifth.

Here are some examples:

• My birthday is on May fifth.
• The meeting is scheduled for the fifth of October.
• School begins on August 5th.
• Her appointment is on the fifth day of the month.

When writing dates with numerals, the ordinal suffix for five is th, as in 5th. You would not write 5f or 5ith.

For formal documents, it is often best to follow the date style required by your school, workplace, or publication. However, the word itself should always be spelled fifth.

Remember that date styles can vary, but the standard spelling of the ordinal number does not change between American and British English.

If you often write fith by mistake, a few simple spelling habits can help you remember the correct form.

First, remember that the word contains two f’s: one at the beginning and one after the i. The correct letter sequence is f-i-f-t-h.

Second, connect fifth with the word five. Both words begin with the same sound and share the letter f. When you change five to fifth, the ending changes, but the spelling still includes the second f.

Third, practice writing the word in short sentences. For example, write “fifth place,” “fifth grade,” “fifth floor,” and “fifth birthday.” Seeing the correct spelling in common phrases helps you remember it.

You can also check the word before publishing an article or sending an important message. Spell-check tools may catch fith, but it is still helpful to understand the rule yourself.

Try this simple memory trick: five becomes fifth, not fith.

The more often you see and use the correct spelling, the easier it becomes to write it naturally.

Common Mistakes When Using Fifth

The most common mistake is leaving out the second f and writing fith. This usually happens when someone types quickly or is unsure how the word should look.

Another mistake is writing fiveth. This spelling may seem logical because it keeps the letters in five and adds th. However, it is not the standard spelling. The correct form is fifth.

Here are some common errors and their corrections:

Incorrect spelling or phrase	Correct spelling or phrase	Explanation
Fith place	Fifth place	The ordinal number needs both f’s.
Fiveth floor	Fifth floor	The standard ordinal form is irregular.
My fith birthday	My fifth birthday	Use fifth to describe the birthday’s order.
The fith question	The fifth question	The correct spelling includes the second f.
June fith	June fifth	Use the standard spelling when writing the date in words.

It is also important not to confuse fifth with five. Use five when counting how many things there are. Use fifth when identifying an item’s place in a sequence.

For example, “I have five pencils” tells us the number of pencils. “This is my fifth pencil” describes its position or order in a particular context.

If you are unsure, pause and check the word. A quick spelling check can make your writing clearer and more professional.

Fifth in School, Sports, and Everyday Life

The word fifth appears in many parts of daily life. Learning to use it correctly can help you communicate clearly at school, at work, and in conversations.

In school, students may talk about the fifth grade, the fifth question on a test, or the fifth chapter of a book. In sports, a player may finish fifth in a race or a team may win its fifth match.

At work, a person might refer to the fifth item on a list, the fifth meeting of the month, or the fifth year of a project.

Here are some practical examples:

• School: I answered the fifth question correctly.
• Sports: Our runner finished fifth in the race.
• Work: This is the fifth meeting this week.
• Shopping: The fifth item on the receipt was a notebook.
• Family: Today is my parents’ fifth wedding anniversary.
• Travel: Our hotel room is on the fifth floor.
• Reading: Please read the fifth paragraph aloud.

These examples show that fifth is useful in both spoken and written English. It helps identify an exact position without needing a long explanation.

When writing for readers, use clear phrases such as “the fifth step” or “the fifth item.” These expressions make instructions easier to follow.

Is Fith Ever Correct in English?

For the meaning of the ordinal number after fourth, fith is not the standard spelling. The correct word is fifth.

You might occasionally see Fith used as a name, username, brand, or invented word. In those special cases, the spelling may be intentional. However, these uses do not make fith a correct substitute for fifth in ordinary writing.

For example, if a person uses “Fith” as a username, you should preserve that spelling when referring to the username. But if you want to say that someone finished in position number five, you must write “finished fifth.”

This distinction matters because names and creative spellings can follow personal choices, while standard grammar and spelling follow accepted conventions.

For schoolwork, professional writing, and SEO articles, use fifth whenever you mean the ordinal number.

FAQs About Fith or Fifth

1. Is it fith or fifth?

The correct spelling is fifth. It is the ordinal number that comes after fourth. Fith is a common misspelling when used with this meaning.

2. Why is fifth spelled with two f’s?

The spelling of fifth follows the standard form of the ordinal number derived from five. The final letters of five change, but the second f remains in the correct spelling.

3. Is fiveth a correct spelling?

No. The standard spelling is fifth, not fiveth. Although fiveth may seem logical, English uses an established form for this ordinal number.

4. How do you write fifth as a number?

You write it as 5th. The number 5 is followed by the ordinal suffix th. For example, June 5th means the fifth day of June.

5. Is fifth spelled the same way in American and British English?

Yes. Both American and British English use fifth. The spelling does not change between these varieties of English.

6. What is the difference between five and fifth?

Five is a cardinal number that tells you how many items there are. Fifth is an ordinal number that tells you the position of something in a sequence.

Conclusion: Fith or Fifth?

When choosing between fith or fifth, remember that fifth is the correct spelling in standard English. It is the ordinal number that comes after fourth and shows the position of a person, object, event, or item in a sequence. The spelling fith is incorrect when you mean this number.

You can use fifth in many everyday situations, such as describing a birthday, a school grade, a race result, a floor in a building, or an item on a list. You can also write it as 5th when using numerals.

The easiest way to remember the spelling is to connect fifth with five and practice common phrases such as “fifth place” and “fifth floor.” Before publishing your writing, check the spelling carefully. With regular practice, you will remember the correct form and avoid this common mistake.