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What is the difference between the pronunciation of eight, eighth and eighty?

I played in Google translator, and is changing so little that I just can't figure out, what is happening...

I imagine if I talk with someone that really speak English in high speed, and I will probably will think it is just "8".

Is this hard for native-speakers too, or just for a Portuguese (Brazilian) speaker like me? Do you have some tip to learn something like that?

And if I go to different regions or English-countries, do I need to learn something more about 8, 80, and 8th?

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  • They're all different. "8" has 1 syllable that ends with a sharp "t" sound. "8th" has 1 syllable ends with a "th" sound. "80" has 2 syllables, ending with an "ee" sound.
    – Lawrence
    Commented Jul 4, 2018 at 13:05
  • But this th pronounce is just like a sharp "t" isn't? And a sharp t is pronuntiated like: tee... but very fast... so... What i am missing...
    – Luciano Andress Martini
    Commented Jul 4, 2018 at 13:06
  • No. The sharp "t" sound is short and can't really be held for a long time. The "th" sound can be held for as long as you keep pushing air through your front teeth.
    – Lawrence
    Commented Jul 4, 2018 at 13:07
  • Those three words are difficult to say distinctly.
    – Hot Licks
    Commented Jul 4, 2018 at 13:08
  • I joined it.... Thanks! Can I ask this question in this other site? And maybe get some audio (wav or something like that) in answers?
    – Luciano Andress Martini
    Commented Jul 4, 2018 at 13:10

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In India, we prounounce these as "ate, ate-th, A tea"

But another fact is that the pronunciation of " ate , ate-th and a tea" is probably different in every other country. So, now that you know that the pronunciation is near to "ate" and all, it won't create much of a confusion.You just have to figure out how people pronounce the basic words like ate and tea in a particular country.

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  • Can you post the other pronounces in this cool way, for other countries from your view?
    – Luciano Andress Martini
    Commented Jul 4, 2018 at 13:37
  • I don't think i have that kind of exposure.
    – kkickah
    Commented Jul 4, 2018 at 13:40
  • 2
    But another fact is that the pronunciation of " ate , ate-th and a tea" is probably different in every other country. So, now that you know that the pronunciation is near to "ate" and all, it won't create much of a confusion.You just have to figure out how people pronounce the basic words like ate and tea in a particular country.
    – kkickah
    Commented Jul 4, 2018 at 13:44
  • Tks. If you include that on the answer i can mark your answer as the right answer!
    – Luciano Andress Martini
    Commented Jul 6, 2018 at 1:48

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