Lesson Topics
Ordinal Numbers
Notes:
- The written lesson is below.
- 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
