Ordinal Numbers

Notes:

  1. The written lesson is below.
  2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

Here are the ordinal numbers first – tenth:

primero
first

segundo
second

tercero
third

cuarto
fourth

quinto
fifth

sexto
sixth

séptimo
seventh

octavo
eighth

noveno
ninth

décimo
tenth

Like many other adjectives, the ordinal numbers have a masculine and a feminine form.

primero
primera

segundo
segunda

tercero
tercera

cuarto
cuarta

quinto
quinta

sexto
sexta

séptimo
séptima

octavo
octava

noveno
novena

décimo
décima

They also have a singular and plural form.

primero 
primeros

segundo
segundos

tercero
terceros

cuarto
cuartos

quinto
quintos

sexto
sextos

séptimo
séptimos

octavo
octavos

noveno
novenos

décimo
décimos

So, the ordinal numbers have four forms, just like other adjectives that end in -o.

primero
primeros
primera
primeras

Primero and tercero drop the -o in the masculine singular adjective form.

el primer día
el tercer año

Ordinal numbers usually precede the noun. However, if the noun they refer to is royalty, a pope, or a street, they come after the noun.

Carlos Quinto
(“Quinto” comes after “Carlos” – royalty)

el quinto libro
(“quinto” comes before “libro”)

la Calle Sexta
(“sexta” comes after “calle” – street)

la sexta pluma
(“sexta” comes before “pluma”)

Ordinal numbers are not normally used after 10.

la Calle Dieciséis
Sixteenth Street

el siglo diecinueve
the nineteenth century