How to read derivatives out loud

  1. How do you read $f'(x)$?

    Answer:

    F-prime of X.
  2. How do you read $\dfrac{df}{dx}$?

    Answer:

    D-F over D-X. Some people even omit the word "over" and read $\dfrac{df}{dx}$ as "D-F-D-X."

    Note: While you can read $f'(x)$ as "the first derivative of F with respect to X," that is a mouthful and, for that reason, often avoided.
  3. How do you read $f''(x)$?

    Answer:

    F-double-prime of X.

    Note: While you can read $f''(x)$ as "the second derivative of F with respect to X," that is a mouthful and, for that reason, often avoided.
  4. How do you read $f'''(x)$?

    Answer:

    F-triple-prime of X.

    Note: While you can read $f'''(x)$ as "the third derivative of F with respect to X," that is a mouthful and, for that reason, often avoided.
  5. How do you read $f^{(IV)}(x)$?

    Answer:

    The fourth-derivative of F of X. Or the forth-derivative of F with respect to X.