Ordinal Numbers in Spanish

Ordinal numbers in Spanish, like in English, are used to indicate position or order in a series. They express a sequence or a certain order among a set of objects, people, events, and more. Learning ordinal numbers will enhance your ability to express a variety of ideas, from describing the order of finishers in a race to telling the story in sequential order.

Spanish Ordinal Numbers 1-10

Spanish ordinal numbers from first (primero) to tenth (décimo) are as follows:

1. Primero/a
2. Segundo/a
3. Tercero/a
4. Cuarto/a
5. Quinto/a
6. Sexto/a
7. Séptimo/a
8. Octavo/a
9. Noveno/a
10. Décimo/a

Note that the ordinal numbers agree with the gender of the noun they modify. Hence, we say “el primer piso” (the first floor), but “la primera vez” (the first time).

Usage of Spanish Ordinal Numbers

In Spanish, ordinal numbers are used in various contexts. For instance, you can use them to express dates, like “el primero de mayo” (the first of May), or to denote floors in a building, like “el primer piso” (the first floor).

They are also used in formal writing and academic context, in titles such as “el primer ministro” (the prime minister), or to denote centuries, like “el décimo siglo” (the tenth century).

Exceptions and Special Cases

There are a few exceptions to remember when using Spanish ordinal numbers. The numbers “primero” and “tercero” drop the final “-o” before masculine singular nouns. For instance, “el primer día” (the first day), “el tercer año” (the third year).

Also, note that while in English we commonly use ordinal numbers beyond 10 (e.g., 11th, 25th, 52nd), in Spanish it’s more common to switch to cardinal numbers (e.g., once, veinticinco, cincuenta y dos) after 10.

Conclusion

Ordinal numbers in Spanish help you express order and sequence in everyday situations. Whether you’re describing your floor number in an apartment building or indicating your position in line, these essential numbers will enhance your Spanish communication skills.

Formation Rules

Spanish ordinal numbers follow specific patterns that make them easier to learn:

• Most ordinal numbers end in ‘-o’ (masculine) or ‘-a’ (feminine)
• They must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify
• They typically come before the noun they describe

Numbers 1-10

1st – primero/primera (abbreviated: 1º/1ª) 2nd – segundo/segunda (2º/2ª) 3rd – tercero/tercera (3º/3ª) 4th – cuarto/cuarta (4º/4ª) 5th – quinto/quinta (5º/5ª) 6th – sexto/sexta (6º/6ª) 7th – séptimo/séptima (7º/7ª) 8th – octavo/octava (8º/8ª) 9th – noveno/novena (9º/9ª) 10th – décimo/décima (10º/10ª)

Special Cases

When “primero” and “tercero” come directly before masculine singular nouns, they drop the final ‘o’:

• el primer piso (the first floor)
• el tercer lugar (the third place)

Numbers 11-20

11th – undécimo/undécima 12th – duodécimo/duodécima 13th – decimotercero/decimotercera 14th – decimocuarto/decimocuarta 15th – decimoquinto/decimoquinta 16th – decimosexto/decimosexta 17th – decimoséptimo/decimoséptima 18th – decimoctavo/decimoctava 19th – decimonoveno/decimonovena 20th – vigésimo/vigésima

Common Usage Examples

In Addresses

• Vivo en el tercer piso (I live on the third floor)
• La primera calle a la derecha (The first street on the right)

In Competition

• Quedó en segundo lugar (They finished in second place)
• El primer premio (The first prize)

In Education

• primer semestre (first semester)
• tercer grado (third grade)

In Sequence

• En primer lugar… (First of all…)
• En segundo lugar… (Secondly…)

Higher Numbers

For numbers above 20, combine “vigésimo” with the appropriate ordinal number:

• 21st – vigésimo primero
• 22nd – vigésimo segundo
• 30th – trigésimo
• 40th – cuadragésimo
• 50th – quincuagésimo
• 100th – centésimo

Writing Tips

When writing ordinal numbers in Spanish, you can use either:

1. The full word (primer, segundo, tercero)
2. The numeral with ordinal indicator (1º, 2º, 3º)

Remember that the ordinal indicator changes based on gender:

• Masculine: º (1º)
• Feminine: ª (1ª)

Cultural Note

In Spanish-speaking countries, ordinal numbers are commonly used up to 10th or 12th. Beyond these numbers, cardinal numbers are often used instead. For example, “el piso 15” (the 15th floor) is more common than “el decimoquinto piso.”

By mastering ordinal numbers in Spanish, you’ll enhance your ability to express order and sequence naturally in conversation, writing, and everyday situations.