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

Understanding and correctly using ordinal numbers in Spanish is a significant aspect of achieving fluency in the language. They enable you to accurately describe sequences, orders, and positions, thereby enriching your descriptive ability in Spanish. Practice these terms regularly to incorporate them into your daily language use effortlessly.

Check out our series of Complete Spanish Grammar articles – everything you’ll ever need to know about Spanish grammar.

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