How to Say and Write Ordinal Numbers in Spanish?

• Luis Ronson
• 10 Mar, 2024
• 0 Comments
• 6 Mins Read

Ordinal numbers in Spanish are used to organize lists, describe the order of events, and represent sequences with numerical digits.

• 1st: Primero
• 2nd: Segundo
• 3rd: Tercero
• 4th: Cuarto
• 5th: Quinto
• 6th: Sexto
• 7th: Séptimo
• 8th: Octavo
• 9th: Noveno
• 10th: Décimo

 What are Ordinal Numbers?

Ordinal numbers are numerical labels that indicate the position or order of objects, events, or ideas in a sequence. They are used to represent a list or sequences with numerical numbers. In Spanish, ordinal numbers are known as “números ordinales.” They are different from cardinal numbers, which represent quantity or counting.

How Do You Form Ordinal Numbers 1-10?

To form these ordinal numbers, follow these rules:

• For “primero,” drop the “-o” and add “-er” before masculine nouns.
• For “tercero,” drop the “-o” and add “-er” before masculine nouns.
• For the rest of the numbers, simply add the appropriate ending (-o for masculine nouns, -a for feminine nouns).

In Spanish, the numbers 1-10 have specific ordinal forms that indicate their order. Here is a list of the ordinal numbers 1-10 in Spanish:

How to Use Ordinal Numbers 1-10 in Sentences?

Ordinal numbers 1-10 are commonly used in Spanish to indicate the order or position of something. Here are some examples of how they can be used in sentences:

• “Mi hermano menor es el cuarto en la fila” (My younger brother is fourth in line)
• “Hoy es mi quinto aniversario de bodas” (Today is my fifth wedding anniversary)
• “La primera vez que visité España fue hace diez años” (The first time I visited Spain was ten years ago)
• “Soy el segundo en llegar a la fiesta” (I am the second one to arrive at the party)

These examples demonstrate how ordinal numbers can provide information about the order or position of objects or events.

How Do You Form Ordinal Numbers 11-100?

Ordinal numbers from 11 to 100 in Spanish can be formed by combining the numbers 11-20 with the suffix “-avo” or “-avo” for masculine nouns and “-ava” or “-ava” for feminine nouns. Here are some examples:

Remember that for numbers 11-15, the “decimo” part is written separately from the rest of the number. Numbers 16-19 are written as one word. From twenty onwards, the number is written as one word.

How to Use Ordinal Numbers 11-100 in Sentences?

Ordinal numbers from 11 to 100 can be used to describe the order or position of objects or events in Spanish. Here are some examples:

• “Mi cumpleaños es el vigésimo segundo de julio” (My birthday is on the twenty-second of July)
• “Hoy es el décimo aniversario de nuestra empresa” (Today is the tenth anniversary of our company)
• “El libro decimoquinto de la serie fue el más emocionante” (The fifteenth book in the series was the most exciting)
• “Ella es la quincuagésima ganadora del concurso” (She is the fiftieth winner of the contest)

These examples illustrate how ordinal numbers from 11 to 100 can provide specific information about the order or position of something.

What are the Spelling Rules for Ordinal Numbers?

When writing ordinal numbers in Spanish, following specific spelling rules is important. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

• The numbers “primero” and “tercero” change to “primer” and “tercer” respectively before masculine nouns.
• The numbers “primero” and “tercero” remain unchanged before feminine nouns.
• The numbers “quinto” and “sexto” drop the final “o” before masculine singular nouns.
• The numbers “quinto” and “sexto” agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.
• The numbers “veinte” and “cien” are written as one word when combined with an ordinal number.

Following these spelling rules ensures that your written Spanish accurately reflects the correct usage of ordinal numbers.

How to Pronunciation of Ordinal Numbers?

The pronunciation of ordinal numbers in Spanish follows the general rules of Spanish pronunciation. However, there are a few specific points to note:

• The letter “i” in “quinto” and “sexto” is pronounced as a short “i” sound, similar to the “i” in “hit.”
• When pronouncing ordinal numbers, stress is placed on the second-to-last syllable unless an accent mark indicates otherwise.

You can effectively communicate ordinal numbers in spoken Spanish by paying attention to these pronunciation nuances.

How to Use Genders in Ordinal Numbers?

In Spanish, ordinal numbers must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. This means that the ending of the ordinal number will change depending on the gender and number of the noun. For example:

• “El primer libro” (masculine singular)
• “La primera casa” (feminine singular)
• “Los terceros libros” (masculine plural)
• “Las terceras casas” (feminine plural)

You can maintain grammatical correctness in your Spanish sentences by ensuring that the ordinal number agrees with the noun.

What are Irregular Ordinal Numbers?

While most ordinal numbers in Spanish follow a regular pattern, there are a few irregular forms to be aware of. Here are some examples:

• “Segundo” is used instead of “dos” for second.
• “Doceavo” is used instead of “doce” for the twelfth.
• “Veintiuno” and “veintidós” are used instead of “uno” and “dos” for the twenty-first and twenty-second.
• “Trigésimo” is used instead of “treinta” for thirtieth.

These irregular ordinal numbers may seem unusual, but they are important to remember when using ordinal numbers in Spanish.

How to Write Dates with Ordinal Numbers?

In Spanish, ordinal numbers are commonly used when writing dates. The ordinal number indicates the day of the month, while the cardinal number is used for the month and year. Here is an example:

• “Hoy es el primero de enero de 2023” (Today is the first of January, 2023)

Note that the ordinal number is used for the day, while the cardinal number is used for the month and year.

Ordinal Numbers in Spanish Literature and Culture

Ordinal numbers are frequently used in Spanish literature to describe the order or position of characters, events, or elements within a story. From the first line of a poem to the twenty-first chapter of a novel, ordinal numbers bring structure and organization to literary works.

Ordinal Numbers in Historical Events

In historical contexts, ordinal numbers are used to represent significant events, such as battles, elections, or anniversaries.
For example:

• “La Batalla de Trafalgar” (The Battle of Trafalgar)
• “El Primer Congreso Constituyente” (The First Constituent Congress)
• “El Quinto Centenario del Descubrimiento de América” (The Fifth Centenary of the Discovery of America)

By using ordinal numbers, historical events can be precisely identified and commemorated.

What are the Differences Between Ordinal Numbers and Cardinal Numbers?

While both ordinal and cardinal numbers are used to represent numbers, there is a significant difference in their usage. Cardinal numbers are used for counting or representing quantity, while ordinal numbers are used to indicate the order or position of something in a list or sequence.
For example:

• Cardinal number: “Tengo tres hermanos” (I have three brothers)
• Ordinal number: “Mi hermano mayor es el segundo en la lista” (My older brother is second on the list)

Luis Ronson

Luis Ronson is a Spanish teacher at onlinelearnspanish.com. He's a bilingual Spanish-English. She has a master's in "vocabulary" and is responsible for our Spanish vocabulary-related articles.