Four vs Fourth

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Four

High-frequency chunk A1

Fourth

Top 1,000 (very common) A1

	Four	Fourth
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/fɔː(r)/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/fɔːr/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/fɔːθ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/fɔːrθ/"]/
Meaning	The number 4.	The number 4 in a sequence, or the position after third.
Example	I have four apples in my basket.	Today is the fourth (of May).
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	High-frequency chunk	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	A1	A1
Collocations	four seasons, four corners, four directions	fourth of July, fourth grade, fourth place, fourth chapter, fourth dimension
Antonyms	one, two, three	first, second, third
Common mistakes	Saying 'fore' instead of 'four' when referring to the number., Confusing 'four' with 'for' in sentences.	Confusing 'fourth' with 'forty' in pronunciation., Using 'fourth' to refer to quantity rather than position., Misspelling as 'forth'.
Usage notes	Use 'four' in counting or describing quantity. Avoid in highly formal contexts where numerals are typically spelled out (e.g. in legal documents).	Used to describe the position in a sequence. Commonly used in both written and spoken language. Not typically used in very formal contexts as a noun (e.g., 'fourth place').

See it in real clips

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

Four thousand years ago,

Ted Lasso › S1 E1

-Four. -Four.

Four.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

Four thousand years ago,

Ted Lasso › S1 E1

-Four. -Four.

Four

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

A Fourth Age of Middle-earth began.

Sherlock › S1 E1

- this time. - A fourth?

Top Gear › S1 E1

Into fourth.

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

A Fourth Age of Middle-earth began.

Sherlock › S1 E1

- this time. - A fourth?

Fourth

Frequently asked questions: Four vs Fourth

What's the difference between Four and Fourth?

Four: The number 4. Fourth: The number 4 in a sequence, or the position after third.

Are Four and Fourth the same CEFR level?

Four: A1, Fourth: A1 on the CEFR scale.

Can you show an example of each?

Four: I have four apples in my basket. Fourth: Today is the fourth (of May).

Can I use Four and Fourth interchangeably?

Not always. Four and Fourth are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.