Ordinal Numbers in Spanish

Ordinal Numbers in Spanish

In Spanish, as in English, numbers come in two main types: cardinal (one, two, three, etc.) and ordinal (first, second, third, etc.).

This article focuses on ordinal numbers, used to express the order of elements, guiding Spanish learners through their formation, patterns, and practical uses.

• How to Use Ordinal Numbers in Spanish
• Formation of Ordinal Numbers
• Practical Examples
• Pronunciation: How natives speak ordinal numbers

How to Use Ordinal Numbers in Spanish

Ordinal numbers are often used to:

• Indicate the order of birth or succession, such as "el tercer hijo" (the third child).
• Describe positions in competitions or lists, like "segundo lugar" (second place).
• Reference centuries and building floors, like "el decimonoveno siglo" (the nineteenth century).

Formation of Ordinal Numbers

In Spanish, ordinal numbers are not only useful but also follow interesting patterns that make them easier to learn. For numbers one through ten, unique words are used:

Numbers from 11 onwards are typically formed by adding the suffix "-ésimo" to the base cardinal number.

However, it's important to note that there are some variations and irregularities. See below:

Gender and Plural Agreement

In Spanish, ordinal numbers must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. This means that ordinal numbers change their endings depending on whether the noun they describe is masculine or feminine, and whether it is singular or plural.

Gender Agreement

Spanish ordinals reflect the gender of the noun they modify by changing their ending. For masculine nouns, most ordinals end in "-o" and for feminine nouns, they end in "-a". Here are examples of each:

• Singular Masculine: "El primero libro" (The first book)
• Singular Feminine: "La primera página" (The first page)

Plural Agreement

When ordinal numbers describe plural nouns, they also need to agree in number. This is typically done by adding an "-s" to the ordinal number if it's describing a plural noun. Here are examples showing both gender and plural agreements:

• Plural Masculine: "Los primeros libros" (The first books)
• Plural Feminine: "Las primeras páginas" (The first pages)

Practical Examples

Here's how you might use ordinal numbers in real-life situations:

• "Vivo en el quinto piso del edificio." (I live on the fifth floor of the building.)
• "Fue el primero presidente de la democracia." (He was the first president of the democracy.)
• "Ella quedó en tercer lugar en la competencia de matemáticas." (She finished in third place in the math competition.)
• "El décimo capítulo del libro es el más emocionante." (The tenth chapter of the book is the most exciting.)
• "Nos reuniremos en la segunda semana de abril." (We will meet in the second week of April.)
• "El centésimo aniversario de la escuela será el próximo año." (The school's hundredth anniversary is next year.)

Pronunciation: How natives speak ordinal numbers

In the following section, we have curated a selection of YouTube videos featuring native Spanish speakers. These videos will provide you with clear examples of how to properly articulate these essential phrases.