If you are wondering whether eighteen or eiteen is the correct spelling, the answer is eighteen. Eiteen is a common misspelling and should not be used in standard English.
The correct spelling is eighteen, which represents the number 18.
Quick Answer: Eighteen or Eiteen?
Eighteen is the correct spelling.
Eiteen is incorrect.
She is eighteen years old.
There are eighteen students in the class.
The easiest way to remember eighteen is to keep the gh from eight before adding -een:
eight + een = eighteen
Is Eighteen or Eiteen Correct?
Eighteen is the standard English spelling of the number 18.
The spelling eiteen is incorrect because it leaves out the gh from eight.
Compare the two:
| Spelling | Correct? | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| eighteen | ✅ Yes | Correct spelling of 18 |
| eiteen | ❌ No | Misspelling of eighteen |
Although eighteen may look complicated, its spelling becomes easier to remember when you connect it with eight.
What Does Eighteen Mean?
Eighteen is the number that comes after seventeen and before nineteen.
It can refer to a quantity, age, position, or number.
I have eighteen dollars.
My brother is eighteen years old.
The book has eighteen chapters.
She finished eighteenth in the competition.
The number 18 is usually written as eighteen when it appears in ordinary text.
Why Is “Eiteen” Incorrect?
Eiteen is incorrect because the standard spelling preserves the gh from eight.
The correct formation is:
eight + een = eighteen
Not:
eiteen ❌
The pronunciation can make the spelling confusing because the gh does not produce a separate sound in modern pronunciation. However, silent letters can still remain part of the correct spelling.
For that reason, hearing the word does not necessarily tell you every letter you need to write.
How Do You Spell Eighteen?
The correct spelling is:
E-I-G-H-T-E-E-N
You can remember it as:
EIGHT + EEN = EIGHTEEN
When writing the number 18, make sure you do not remove the gh.
eighteen ✅
eiteen ❌
How Do You Pronounce Eighteen?
Eighteen is commonly pronounced approximately:
ay-TEEN
The gh is silent.
This silent spelling pattern is one reason people sometimes write eiteen instead of eighteen. However, the pronunciation does not change the spelling.
Think of it this way:
eight → eighteen
The gh remains even though you do not hear it.
Eighteen in Everyday English
The word eighteen appears frequently in everyday conversations.
My daughter is eighteen now.
We ordered eighteen pizzas for the event.
The bus leaves at eighteen minutes past the hour.
There were eighteen people at the meeting.
In each sentence, eighteen refers to the number 18.
Eighteen in School Writing
Students often use eighteen when discussing quantities, ages, dates, or measurements.
The class has eighteen students.
The experiment lasted eighteen minutes.
The novel contains eighteen chapters.
The student scored eighteen points.
When writing an assignment, use eighteen, not eiteen.
Eighteen in Professional Writing
Professional documents can also use eighteen when reporting numbers.
The company hired eighteen new employees.
The survey received eighteen responses.
The project will take eighteen weeks to complete.
The committee consists of eighteen members.
For formal writing, the correct spelling helps maintain accuracy and professionalism.
Common Mistakes With Eighteen
The most common mistake is dropping the gh.
Incorrect
She is eiteen years old.
Correct
She is eighteen years old.
Another mistake is changing the order of letters:
eigthteen ❌
The correct form is:
eighteen ✅
Remember that the word begins with eight, not eite.
Eighteen vs. Eight
Understanding the connection between eight and eighteen makes the spelling easier.
Eight = 8
Eighteen = 18
Notice that eighteen keeps the spelling of eight and adds -een:
eight + een → eighteen
Examples:
I ate eight apples.
I bought eighteen apples.
The spelling connection can help you remember the correct form.
Eighteen vs. Eighteenth
- Eighteen and eighteenth have different meanings.
- Eighteen refers to the number 18.
She is eighteen years old.
Eighteenth refers to the position or order of something.
She finished eighteenth in the race.
The spelling changes when -th is added:
eighteen → eighteenth
Do not confuse the two forms.
Is “Eiteen” Ever Correct?
No. Eiteen is not the standard spelling of the number 18 in English.
If you see eiteen in a sentence where the writer means the number 18, it should be corrected to eighteen.
For example:
He is eiteen years old. ❌
should become:
He is eighteen years old. ✅
How to Remember Eighteen
A simple trick is to remember the word in two parts:
EIGHT + EEN = EIGHTEEN
The important point is that eight keeps its gh.
You can also remember:
8 = eight
18 = eighteen
The spelling of eight gives you the beginning of eighteen.
Common Phrases With Eighteen
Here are some common expressions using eighteen:
- eighteen years old
- eighteen people
- eighteen students
- eighteen months
- eighteen dollars
- eighteen days
- eighteen chapters
- eighteen points
Examples
The program lasts eighteen months.
There were eighteen students in the room.
He saved eighteen dollars.
The book contains eighteen chapters.
Eighteen in Numbers and Formal Writing
The number 18 and the word eighteen represent the same number.
In many contexts, you can write:
There are 18 students.
or:
There are eighteen students.
Which form you choose can depend on the writing style or context. However, when you spell the number out, the correct form is always eighteen.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eighteen vs. Eiteen
Is eighteen or eiteen correct?
Eighteen is correct. Eiteen is a misspelling.
How do you spell eighteen?
The correct spelling is E-I-G-H-T-E-E-N: eighteen.
What number is eighteen?
Eighteen represents the number 18, which comes after seventeen and before nineteen.
Why is eighteen spelled with gh?
The word eighteen is based on eight, so it retains the gh spelling even though those letters are silent in pronunciation.
How do you pronounce eighteen?
Eighteen is pronounced approximately ay-TEEN. The gh is silent.
Is eiteen a word?
No. Eiteen is a misspelling of eighteen, the correct word for the number 18.
What is the difference between eighteen and eighteenth?
Eighteen is the number 18, while eighteenth describes the eighteenth position or order.
She is eighteen.
She finished eighteenth.
Quick Comparison: Eighteen vs. Eiteen
| Word | Correct? | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Eighteen | ✅ Yes | The number 18 |
| Eiteen | ❌ No | Misspelling of eighteen |
| Eighteenth | ✅ Yes | The 18th position or order |
Conclusion
Eighteen is the correct spelling of the number 18, while eiteen is incorrect. The main reason people misspell eighteen is that the gh is silent, making the word sound different from how it looks.
The easiest way to remember eighteen is to start with eight and add -een:
eight + een = eighteen
So, whenever you need to write the number 18 in words, use eighteen, not eiteen.
